Chapter 18: Soils of Paranoia
Shortly after Rufus falls asleep the door to the conference room is slowly pushed open.
Resting on his elbows, Sephiroth watches a pair of legs clothed in blue pause at the door. They crouch and the blond Turk's sharp eyes meet softly glowing green for a moment, before flickering to Rufus's limp body.
The Turk straightens and stalks silently closer. Beneath the shadow of the table the silver-haired child scents the air, detecting the fighter's caution.
She crouches again, taking a closer look at Rufus. He senses her relax somewhat, probably having confirmed Rufus as merely sleeping. Her noes wrinkle slightly, likely due to the smell of urine.
Her gaze returns to warily observe the young boy languidly lounging besides his charge, watching her.
A deafening silence smothers the space between them, before the Turk moves to stand.
"What is it you have under your sleeve?" The child's voice slices through the air, giving the Turk pause. "Is it a prosthetic, or armour?"
While she gives him a long look, a heavy silence effortlessly drapes itself over the room yet again.
In the end, she turns and exits the room without uttering a single word.
Sephiroth's brief fight with her had left a deep impression. She had been fast, decisive and yet, deceptive.
From this encounter he can judge that whatever his combat training had given him it had been woefully inadequate to prepare him for this adversary. In that brief moment of close quarters he hadn't been able to think of a way to counter her moves, even with his opponent on her knees. A position which must have been awkward at best.
He guessed she had purposefully revealed the blade in her right and hidden the one that would strike him from behind. Sephiroth's sharp senses would not have been quick enough to interpret the danger, were it not for his soul's vast experiences.
He could be sporting a deep gash in his back right now. Imagining it his memories fall back on the buster sword. He knows it must have stabbed through his flesh before. And it too had done so from the back.
All he had really known what to do in the conference room was where and how to strike an unprepared or unbalanced opponent. He knew well what to do to prey upon, but not when preyed upon.
However, it had been fun.
Beneath the heavy conference table an indifferent heart raced at the thought of danger.
Glowing eyes bored into a shut door, narrowed in recollection of the thrill.
…
The Turk returns with a bundle of cloth, which she sets down on the floor a few meters away from the table.
Sephiroth waits for the Turk to leave before he retrieves it. He can sense the tension in the fighter and knows that she is skittish around him. For the moment the child deems it unwise to further prod at her nervs.
As much as he would like to fight her again, it would likely end up conflicting with his current task of taking care of Rufus. The older boy had been scared into his current state from the previous exchange, after all.
Further more, he also recognises that he is not fully her opponent.
She possesses greater bulk and weight than he, even if she may not be capable of the same raw physical output as Sephiroth. As long as the silver-haired boy had no leverage, the turk would be able to make more use of her strength. She was also armed and probably armoured, had more combat experience while he would have none of the advantage on the floor which the table had provided.
Collecting the bundle he finds two sets of clean clothes and wet-napkins, which he presumes are for Rufus and himself, though he doesn't particularly need it. Nevertheless he slips unquestioning into the white garments.
A warm blanket was also provided which he is inclined to set aside along with Rufus's clothing, but a memory of Hojo slumped on a desk with a similarly large cloth draped over the man gives Sephiroth pause.
'Take care of the president's son.'
With dilated pupils he unfolds the blanket and awkwardly pulls it over the older boy.
This should be sufficient enough to 'take care' of Rufus, thinks Sephiroth uncertainly.
His soul is silent.
…
Rufus wakes up slowly and groggily. The Turk had brought in some packaged fruit juice and savoury snacks, which Sephiroth passes to the boy who consumes it quietly.
Sephiroth himself is on a regimented diet and does not partake in anything offered.
The young Shinra is uncharacteristically silent. His scent suggests stress, but fluctuates irregularly with emotions Sephiroth finds difficult to identify.
Perhaps it is because he had grown used to the deep breathing and the young thrum of a living organism besides him as the blond boy slept, but he finds that the silent Rufus's presence no longer aggravates him to the same extent as it had before.
"When they ask you what happened you must tell them that Heidegger was being scary and that you protected me." The young shinra utters his first words abruptly, his voice a whisper.
Green eyes watch relentlessly until cold, guarded blue emerge from under the blond fringe.
Suddenly the 'footage' that Turk Zero had been looking at comes to Sephiroth's mind.
Under the table's shade, a green glow brighter in understanding, suspicions further confirmed.
"But I wasn't." He answers back softly.
The blond looks at him confused. "What?"
"Protecting you" Sephiroth clarifies.
"You weren't?" Surprise followed by a little disappointment shifts like mist in the air. But it is faint, and cycles to other emotions quickly.
The silver haired boy shakes his head in confirmation of the faint dismay which dwells in the air between them.
"But you pushed me-" Rufus starts in a somewhat louder voice, but quickly breaks off. Pursed lips and eyes roaming. Caution taking a greater part in the scent than whatever faint hope birthed the objection.
"That was merely to give myself some space to manoeuvre." Answers Sephiroth, voice still soft.
The young Shinra's gaze returns again to rest on the younger boy.
"What about that time when Heidegger almost kicked me?" The younger boy asks quietly.
The question gives Sephiroth pause. At the time he'd seen it coming and just moved. Much like catching a glass that someone knocked from the table. The possible mess and the commotion worth the effort of intervention.
"I hadn't thought of it at the time." The silver-haired child answers honestly.
Silence ripples between them. A different dynamic slowly weaves itself around them.
The older boy speaks again, quietly but the steel in his voice is unmistakable. Cold blue eyes unwavering:
"It doesn't matter if you weren't. Just tell them that you wanted to protecting me."
Unfazed by the young Shinra, the younger counters coldly with a simple question:
"Why?" Though Sephiroth is not avers to lying, he rarely sees the need to do so. Covering up the lies with more lies to keep the story consistent in the face of questioning is also too tedious.
For a long time the blond doesn't answers. Rufus shifts, pulling up his knees to wrap his arms around them.
At first Sephiroth doesn't think the older boy will answer, his scent thick with a muted sadness and fear, weariness and stress covering the true depths of those emotions.
With back turned and whispering into his knees, Sephiroth's sharp ears nevertheless manage to catch Rufus's response.
"I don't want you to disappear…"
Pupils narrow into slits. Sephiroth's suspicions delve deeper.
…
"Ok Sephiroth! Time to say goodbye. We're going back home!" The rookie Turks appearance is as much of a surprise as her mention of home.
Though the silver haired child knows the term, he had never associated it with something which he possessed.
Nevertheless he gets out from under the table, stretching his legs. Used as he is to follow instructions he begins walking towards the Turk who comes to meet him.
An urgent wave of desperate fear and stress stops him in his tracks.
He hears Rufus scramble from underneath the table, small fingers grasp his arm hurriedly.
"Sephiroth stay's with me." The boys expression is calm, bearing an authority the silver-haired child had never heard coming from him before. Rufus's facade is almost flawless, save to the other child who can smell the adrenaline in the air and the slightly accelerated heartbeat from clammy palms.
"Oh, I know it's hard to say goodbye, but you'll see each other again. Besides your father will be coming back soon." The Turk says airily, smelling of mild determination which Sephiroth attributes to task orientation.
"Sephiroth stay's with me." Rufus is unmoved, his face as cold as the colour of his eyes.
The turk squats down putting a hand on the silver-haired boy's shoulder. The blond's grip tightens even further, though his eyes never leave the Turks.
"Don't be like that Rufus. Don't you want to be a big boy and make your father proud? Say goodbye now to Sephiroth." The Turk smiles sweetly at the young Shinra.
Sephiroth senses a wavering in the other boy's scent but it quickly reforms into an additional thread of determination.
"Sephiroth stays with me." The child's voice is much cooler than before bearing hints of his father's authority.
The Turk smiles benevolently at Rufus before turning to the younger child.
"Won't you be a good child and tell your friend it's time for you to leave, Sephiroth?"
Green eye's stare uninterestedly into the Turks dull brown.
"I hear Professor Hojo will be wanting to see you when he returns." She tries again. Her scent unchanged, if mixed with grains of bafflement and the beginnings of impatience.
The Turks intention seem innocent enough as far as Turk tasks go, likely only to retrieve Sephiroth. They'd probably sent her in particular because she was the Turk who'd been the least antagonistic towards himself.
What strikes Sephiroth as odd with this exchange, however, is Rufus's response. The young Shinra almost seems to be talking on another subject matter entirely.
But, Sephiroth is already partial towards leaving. He had spent long enough in Rufus's company. In addition his scheduled time with the young Shinra is about to end.
The turk seems to sense something from him and she stands, pulling slightly on Sephiroth's shoulder. Implicitly urging him towards the door.
A second hand grabs at his arm, the eight-year-old's knuckles pale from its grip.
"Sephiroth stays with me." The same intonation as before, the face of the child so blank it makes the silver-haired boy wonder if the other's face has stiffened into a mask.
"Don't be like that, Rufus. You must say goodbye now. Come along Sephiroth." Her pull becomes more insistent on his shoulder. Her grip tightening. Rufus pulls on his arm. The older boy's muscles tence along with an imperceptible increase in his breathing.
"Sephiroth, tell Rufus to let go. It's time for you to leave." The Turk commands him. Her voice sterner than before.
Rather nonplussed at the tugging from both sides Sephiroth contemplates why he currently finds himself in this predicament.
From Rufus scent it is clear that the blond perceives a threat. A threat to Sephiroth, judging by the warnings the other had given him.
From the brunette tugging at his shoulder her merely senses a task. Her intentions shallow, no deeper than what she had already stated. To retrieve him.
His soul is silent concerning this matter. It knows only obedience and a resentful disdain towards the company.
He had not cared to look deeper into her instructions before. He rarely ever does. But reflecting upon it he knows that this talkative Turk is a rookie. Chicken feed in the hierarchy from the Turk in charge's own mouth. She would not know the porpoise of her own task.
That the Turks would plot against Sephiroth is definitely plausible, however, should he care? He doesn't fear any attempts they might do against his life.
The young Shinra had expressed a concern that he could 'disappear'. He would not miss the older boy's company if he never got to see him again. However, if Sephiroth were to disappear from Shinra entirely, it would constitute a complication to his own plans.
Ignoring the older woman's constant urging and more insistent tugging Sephiroth turns to his most credible source of information at hand.
Glowing green meet cold blue. Rufus has given up on repeating his phrase. His face a stony mask. His scent defiant, determined and afraid.
Within the cold abyss of the others eyes he sees a silent urging. No doubt fuled by self interest.
But so are Sephiroth's own decisions.
Cooly he returns his attention to the young turk. Shrugging his shoulder partially out of her grip to get her attention, he finalises his decision:
"I do as Shinra commands." His voice as stony as Rufus's face.
Stunned the brunette pauses in her verbal urging, but the silver-haired boy can see her nature will not be thwarted so easily.
"This is final. Leave." He dictates pre-emptively. His firm gaze gaining a faint simmer of annoyance in the face of her possible persistence.
The rookie's eyes flicker between the two cold-faced boys, before she releases his shoulder, turns and strides towards the door.
"What is this!?" Her voice bears the notes of plaintive indignation. Leaving the scent of confusion and frustration behind as the door swings shut.
Rufus lets out a quiet breath letting go of his arm and brightening the air with relief.
Both boys stay silent, aware of the unknown witnesses there might be.
…
Rufus is becoming more and more restless.
As for Sephiroth himself, he is thoroughly bored. Fortunately his fellow companion had not pestered him, but he had spent the entire afternoon in a stifling enclosed room with the blond and every additional twitch serves to remind him of it.
Meanwhile the short cropped blond Turk had managed to keep up a steady glower at him for the past few hours in the company of is hand-to-hand instructor who managed to keep a friendly if apologetic exterior. From time to time he had left the the room to provide refreshments and more salty snacks for Rufus. His scent betrayed his insincerity however.
Both Turks were were here on a task. They'd come in a some minutes after the rookie left and had half heartedly attempted to retrieve Sephiroth once again, before settling to keep watch over the children.
Since then a heavy silence smothered the room. Rufus, had attempted a few times to start a trivial conversation with Sephiroth with little success, an otherwise tried to keep himself occupied with whatever books he had. Once again with little success, judging by his scent.
Finally Rufus speaks up:
"I need to go to the toilet."
His hand-to-hand instructor stands up. Unsurprised by the pronouncement.
"I'll escort you there." He informed the boy.
The blond makes no move to get up.
A spike of unease introduced itself to the growing discomfort which had been present in Rufus's scent for the past hour.
"Sephiroth also needs to go to the toilet!" The blond blurts out.
Taken off guard Sephiroth begins to deny the older boy's claim
"N-"
"-He really needs to go too!" Rufus interrupts speedily and with much enthusiam.
The glance the Turks give each other catches Sephiroth's attention. A burgeoning suspicion begins to dawn once again.
His hand-to hand-instructor rubs his knuckles discreetly.
"Sephiroth doesn't look like he needs to go." The man responds, a genial smile on his face.
"He really, really needs to poo!" The Shinra proclaims emphatically. Now shifting from foot to foot but his face the picture of sincerity.
Sephiroth can sense the other urging him with his scent to corroborate his claim. Face impassive, he crosses his arms, not impressed in the slightest. He has a schedule which he seldom breaks, for such things.
Though he recognises the other's concern, he will not dignify that excuse with an acknowledgement.
Fists, seems to accept this explanation though Sephiroth can sense his desecrate amusement. He exits the room and Rufus is quick to pursue.
The silver-haired child follows aware of the silent Turk watching him like a predator as she stalks behind him.
Arriving at the bathroom, Rufus quickly darts into a cubicle.
Instantly, Sephiroth is aware of the two Turks senses sharpen onto him, as he continues to pace into the bathroom.
Fists in front and Scissors behind, a formation catering to their strengths. The bathroom is not wide with cubicles on his right and sinks and urinals on his left. If he is quick, perhaps he can gain cover beneath the sinks or in the cubicles, but he knows now the difference that skill makes. In addition, these close-quarter fighters are already in close proximity which would leave him little time to react.
His most likely odds would come from disabling one of his opponents by breaking something in their legs, but would they let him?
Calm, and outwardly unfazed, pupils narrow into slits beneath a silver fringe.
Just as he passes Rufus's stall the older boy darts out his arm and yanks a fist full of Sephiroth's collar.
Surprised, Sephiroth manages to curb his reflex to jab his fist into the others ribs. An action which might at least cracked some bones.
Looking up into the blue eye's with in that same blank face he can sense the silent urging once again..
Silver lashes slide over glowing green in a slow blink, pupils once again dilating as Sephiroth steps into Rufus's cubicle.
The blond boy is quick to release Sephiroth and pull down his pants to relieve himself, meanwhile the silver haired boy latches the door then turns to watch unabashedly.
When done Rufus pulls up his pants and reaches for the flush, but stops himself then turns a questioning gaze at the other boy standing a couple of steps away from him.
Sephiroth crosses his arms in silent response.
The young Shinra flips down the toilet seat and sits down on it, releasing a shaky, but quiet breath. The stress and adrenaline is even more pronounced in the small enclosed space. He can see the other's hands shaking where they rest on his white trousers.
Seeing the change Sephiroth uncrosses his arms and takes a hesitant step closer but stops short when Rufus looks up at him. Dilated blue meet with dilated green.
Sephiroth knows that the other boy is scared. Scared on his behalf. Usually the silver-haired child would not care about the other's distress, but he has been tasked to take note of it.
An unfamiliar uncertainty causes him to falter.
He doesn't know what to do.
In the end, all he does is stand uselessly and watch the young Shinra piece his courage together on his own.
Soon the fear shrinks into the shadows of a determination Sephiroth does not understand.
He moves aside as the Shinra stands and makes his way to the door, unlatching it.
Sephiroth flushes dutifully before following the blond to confront the the two experienced Turks laying in wait for them on the other side.
…
The slight increase in the building's activity, in spite of the evening hour is what gave their return away. A dozen minutes later, he can hear the familiar hurried shuffle. Indeed, professor Hojo bearing a brief case, soon appears in the lobby to which they had been relocated to.
The Professors pace quickens as he strides over to Sephiroth.
"I'm away for a single day and this is the mess you get yourself into?"
He kneels before the pale boy dropping the case uncaringly by his side. Quickly he examine for any injury by manipulating and palpating the boy's joints.
"Did the assistant reach you?" The professor questions again.
Sephiroth shakes his head in response, but remains otherwise unperturbed.
Professor Hojo purses his lips, and Sephiroth's nostrils flare as he senses doubt beneath the stress.
"Such incompetence." The black-hared man sneers vehemently but his scent is half hearted in the sentiment.
"Fortunately I had the foresight to bring you something from the labs." He opens the briefcase and pulls out a glass bottle of water and some crisp-bread hastily stuffed in a bag.
"What will happen?" The child asks glancing at the documents in the briefcase.
Professor Hojo is silent for a moment, stress and worry fluctuating while he quickly closes the brief case.
"I'm about to attend a meeting. Nothing has been decided yet." Answers the professor dismissively.
Before Sephiroth can adress the evasion, Hojo leans in suddenly, hazel eyes bearing a severity to impassive green.
"It's only because Rufus has been by your side all this time that his voice has any weight at all on this matter." The man speaks in a low and urgent tone.
"Stay by his side."
On impuls Sephiroth reaches out to grasp the Professors larger hand as he stands.
Sudden surprise lights the air at the boy's uncharacteristic gesture and Hazel eyes glimmer questioningly down at him.
Thoughts turning swiftly Sephiroth looks away, eyes falling upon Rufus who is watching them with interest.
"Good luck." The boy mumbles.
Professor Hojo jerks away, as if burnt. A tumult of complicated emotions which Sephiroth does not bother to read into, struggle in the air with each other.
The man leaves quickly with his brief case, not glancing back.
Picking up the bottle of water the five-year-old uncaps it to take a drink while Rufus approaches him surreptitiously.
"Was that your father?" The blond child asks innocently.
Sephiroth chokes.
Desperately concentrating on the new sensation of water flowing up through his noes, he doesn't have time to examine the emotions seething from his soul.
Regaining his composure, the silver-haired boy wipes his face and turns to the young Shinra.
The silver-haired boy answeres, his tone fridgid and barron as the mountains of Nible:
"No."
Author's notes:
Reviews: A big thank you to Morganna Saphire Raven for her review on Chapter 3 along with Tocasia, Bleedingangel95, The-Living-Shadow, gennavain and a new guest for offering their thoughts on my last chapter and my story as a while. So Valuable! Special thanks goes to BoodyRoses who always shares her thoughts on the story so beautifully and expressively as well as Lordibau who has contributed to the events of this chapter and the next even though he may not know in what way yet.
Also hello to al the new followers. Every time I saw a notification, it was a step away from what ever was happening
It's been a while, much longer than what was actually needed. Death has come to my family and changed many things but left a gentle joy and gratitude in the empty space left in its wake. The doors in our hearts which sorrow opened have yet to close, but it has allowed us to share many precious things that usually hides within.
That aside. There is another part to come in this arc (yes it's been so many chapters I'm starting to think of it as an arc). It was beginning to drag out in length and it seemed like an appropriate place to end it - good old Rufus - hopefully this chapter has left you satisfied anyway.
Next chapter shouldn't take as much time. Maybe a month.
Next chapter: Sephiroth goes snooping, While the board members come to a decision regarding Sephiroth.