Since it's been a long time since my last update, here's a selection of relevant chapters that might help if you forgot everything about this story: 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15-17. (Please mention if it's helpful or not, it's for your convenience after all)
Italics are dialogue happening elsewhere. (you'll know when you see it)
Chapter 19: No such thing as Luck
Shortly after Hojo's departure, Sephiroth acted.
Standing he faced the Turks. They were different from the ones who had spent the afternoon with him, but he recognised them as his firearm and sword instructor.
"It is time, I must go to the toilet."
The two women exchange looks with each other.
Rufus perks up at Sephiroth's words and is quick to add his own piece.
"I also need to go."
As simple as that, the two Turks began escorting them from the lobby to the nearest bathroom. Taking measured paces, Sephiroth plots.
Evidently the workings within Shinra were more complex than he had previously cared to contemplate. Knowing this now he can not leave his fate solely in the hand of Professor Hojo while he wallows in ignorant boredom, waiting for whatever fate which might potentially shunt him out of Shinra or otherwise inconvenience him.
For this reason he now tracks a fragment of his own awareness which he had left upon Hojo during the brief moment he grabbed hold of the man. As much as he and his soul abhors the idea of attaching any part of himself to his guardian, he had never attempted what he was about to do and needed all of the precision he could get.
He must not be caught. For that same reason he needed a moment of privacy to commence his plan.
Entering the bathroom his eyes casually roam the room, only for the briefest instant locking onto the vent which was barely visible from above the endmost cubicle on the opposite wall.
'You forgot the ones replaced by the ventilation grates.'
As the memory of his own voice whispers in Sephiroth's mind, chiding Rufus about the little math's exercise in a conference room, the pail-haired child's gait remains unchanged as he paces to the farthest stall.
Shutting and latching it firmly behind him, he listens to the other boy entering a neighbouring stall. Sephiroth opens himself to the outside, although he has never done it before; his soul knows he can. The knowledge of what he must do is innate. A part of his awareness flows out and slips into existence before him.
The faint illusory image of himself looks back at him, observing its more solid counterpart, a child as tall as the handle behind him, hair of silver and eyes a glowing mako green.
Simultaneously, both identical boys turn to look unspeaking at the ventilation-grate far above their heads.
Sephiroth then turns away. Stepping towards the toilet stool and through his faint shade as it floats unheard too and through the grate, beginning its navigation toward the other shard of his soul which rests unobtrusively on his guardian many rooms away.
...
By the time Sephiroth exits his stall, it has found the ceiling ventilation grate to the conference room where the gathering is taking place.
Professor Hojo is there, as is Heidegger, and the red-haired Turk he now knew as Zero. She is accompanied by the dark haired, olive-skinned one whom had attended his status immunity experiments and intruded upon his goading of Cane, his staff-instructor. Through his shade, Sephiroth observes the presence of quite a number of other officials that Sephiroth's soul doesn't recognise. He takes notice of Palmers absence. The only other official he has met who has elicited a reaction from his soul, condescending as it might have been.
Briefly eyeing the large conference table, Sephiroth's shade slips through the currents of lifestream to materialise slowly beneath the table and partially within the floor. Rising out of the floor, the shade carefully observes the polished shoes and variety of socked ankles peeking from beneath trouser hems. Though it can see, its vision is not as sharp as it would have been in Sephiroth's own body. However, what Sephiroth truly desires is to hear, only his shade is not solid enough to hear anything beyond muffled muted sounds.
The other fragment of his awareness which he had attached to Hojo detaches itself from the man in this moment and like it's shade melts into the Lifestream in order to bleed into it's counterpart fragment, causing the illusory Child's shadow to grow more distinct. With added weight and mass it is just dense enough to be able to hear…
"-a menace if left to roam free as it has. It's a ticking time bomb!" Booms Heidegger's voice. Even so, it sounds much more muted and muffled in comparison to Sephiroth's own hearing which could at that very moment pick up the distant pumping in the pipes which brought him the water to the tap he was using to wash his hands with. "We should stick it down together with the oth-"
"Yes, yes thank you Heidegger." The voice of president Shinra interrupts. The ghostly child glances down the legs lining the underside of the long conference table to the rich burgundy trouser legs and shiny black shoes at the very end.
There were less people at the table than when Sephiroth had first been introduced. Was their absence because of the late hour or the topic, Sephiroth wonders.
"I-, wh-, -even the Turks would agree with me!" Heidegger splutters.
"Yes, Heidegger, thank you. You may take your leave now and retire for the night." Repeats the president again, not sounding impatient but firm. Sephiroth's shade tastes the air but it could not distinguish much with its dulled senses. It throws sephiroth off, even now as he and his escort return to the lobby, he can smell that the Turk behind him, his blade instructor, is tired and distantly worried about something. A honed awareness he has come to rely on to understand the people around him.
In the end the shade watches Heideggers boots - the very same that he had unlaced earlier that day - when the conference room goes silent.
"Yes sir." Says Heidegger, his voice a tad hoarser then usual. Instead of tasting the air uselessly, shimmering ghostly eyes watched as the green clad legs still, how fingers appear underneath the table to grasp the wooden hand-rests of his chair. How the knuckles tighten and go pale.
Heidegger stands and pushes the chair backwards, causing it to scrape against the carpeted floor. Those pair of solid boots stood glued to the floor for a moment before they seemed to be pulled away as if with difficulty, before walking awkwardly out of the conference room.
"Malkhaz, how do you judge this affair." Continues President Shinra neutrally after the conference door clicks shut. The shade casts around for who this Malkhaz might be and caught sight of a pair of blue pant legs and shiny shoes taking a step forwards.
'Turk', Sephiroth thinks 'seldom on active duty', the shoes are not scuffed enough for that even though they are obviously not brand new.
"No harm has come of this affair. Aside from the expense of one bullet and a bullet whole in one of the walls - easily removed." A deep, calm voice roles off the speakers tongue, a voice which Sephiroth recognises. It was the one who interrupted his spar with cane, the quiet presence during the status immunity experiments and the one he'd met for the first time when looking for Veld.
"There is concern, however, for… your son, sir." The man hesitates before addressing the President. The shade tastes the air again but feels nothing. Instead it has to resume watching the legs move around it. They looked… nervous? … unsettled? Sephiroth speculates as he walks calmly down the corridor, pale eyes gazing inscrutably ahead. The Turk's legs give nothing away, they are in a well-balanced stance. Unmoving.
"What happened to him." The president asked. Listening, Sephiroth can only hear neutrality. It does not even sound like a question from the presidents mouth.
"Most of the day, Rufus spent well. He practiced his lessons until afternoon when Sephiroth was brought in. Rufus retreated with Sephiroth underneath the conference table where they proceeded to do mischief by untying General Heideggers bootlaces." The man narrates, whatever his thoughts may have been, they were indistinguishable from his voice. But the legs beneath the table shift and the shade could barely catch breathy laughs of amusement from around it.
"What we have gathered from the little your son has said on this matter, it would seem that Heidegger performed a kick when he realised what was happening. According to Rufus, this kick would have struck him if it were not for Sephiroth pulling him quickly out of harms way." Again, it was carefully and deliberately narrated. A stillness falls over the room. The shade tastes the air but leaves Sephiroth frustrated, instead it can only read into the absence of movement to gain any information.
Meanwhile Sephiroth and his cohort have returned to the lobby, the silver haired boy moves to sit on one of the plush new couches. Rufus curls up right beside Sephiroth, unnecessarily close. Having other things to think about, the silver-haired child doesn't rebuff him.
"The boys proceeded to study the course work together until Rufus expressed his fatigue in continuing to pursue lessons. Rufus requested Sephiroth to show him some fighting moves, to which Sephiroth agreed and performed a restraining manoeuvre. He was gentle and no harm was done." Silence filled Malkhaz's pause once again, but Sephiroth manages to interpret interest from the way the legs around the shade are angled towards the speaker.
"Sephiroth released Rufus upon the latter's request after which Rufus began attempting to tickle his companion. Sephiroth retaliated in kind, the resulting disturbance elicited Heidgger's reprimand. It is at this point where hostilities began. General Heidegger claims that Sephiroth was deliberately provocative, while Rufus asserts that Sephiroth was protecting him from a perceived threat from Heidegger." A quiet murmur arises but the shade doesn't manage to make out any particular words.
"Hey, Sephiroth…" Rufus calls quietly. The child does not spare a glance at the Presidents son.
"Be still, I am listening." Sephiroth murmurs softly back, hoping it will be enough to silence the disturbance besides him.
"And the Turks…" Prompts President Shinra.
"What are you listening to? I can't hear anything." Asks Rufus disruptively.
Annoyance flickers within the silver-haired boys eyes, but instead of acting upon it he uses it to sharpen his focus.
"It is beyond your hearing. Now, be still." The pale-haired child's tone is even and his words bear an exact cadence, sounding almost robotic in nature.
"One of my operatives sensed the situation was becoming dangerous and rushed in to engage. When her partner joined her, he observed General Heidegger and the Turk operative fighting Sephiroth and opened fire. The shot missed, but hostilities ceased. Rufus stepped in and defended his companion, claiming he was not at fault. My second in command took charge and cleared the situation." Summarised the man. Sephiroth noted curiously that he did not mention the rookie Turk who had rushed in pointing her gun at Heidegger.
"So nothing happened directly to Rufus." States the President, sounding neutral but through his shade Sephiroth sensed undertones- undertones, he belatedly realised, he could not confirm as the shade fruitlessly tastes the air. Yet again…
"You can hear things I can't?" Asks Rufus innocently.
"Rufus, was shocked by the incident, sir." Responds the Turk.
"Hey, what things can you hear?" Inquires Rufus, attempting to jostle Sephiroth's shoulder to gain a response and succeeding in jostling the younger boy as Sephiroth's attention is elsewhere.
"Not now." Sephiroth responds in the same automated voice as he notes through his shade that the legs under the table are becoming uncomfortable in the silence.
"As would be expected of a child who went through such an event." The Turk adds. "Even adults would be shocked should it be an infrequent experience."
So focused on the events he is observing through his shade, Sephiroth doesn't notice the streak of calculation in cold blue eyes, nor the scent of plotting that would have given Rufus away.
"Mmmm." President shinra grunts. "What of Sephiroth?" The ghostly boy's ears twitch, reacting to the subject.
"Will you tell me later?" Whispers Rufus in Sephiroth's ear, the sound unnecessarily loud to Sephiroth's sharp senses.
Sephiroth grunts in response.
"My Turks say he seems unfazed." The deep voice of the Turk says measuredly.
"As is expected, he was made for this after all." Hojo's voice, Sephiroth knows it too well. He can tell the man is feeling anxious even through the shades dulled senses.
"Mm." The shade barely hears the Presidents grunt in reply. "Show us the footage, I'd like to see how they performed."
"Before, I felt that your hands were different, can I look at them?" Asks Rufus, his voice pitched a little higher than usual. Sephiroth is beginning to notice Rufus's overly innocent behaviour which clashes with his conniving scent, but he continues to ignore it in favour of something more worthy of his attention.
"Sir." The deep voice acknowledges. Another Turk with smaller feet - 'female' he thinks -approached and he hears a loud thud of something being put down follow by clattering, tapping and clicking.
The shade begins edging noiselessly nearer to the table's edge, contorting itself in a manner which would have been painful had it been more solid. Nearing an unknown man's feet it peers between stool legs up at the wall showing a projected image.
"We added the audio for you benefit, sir." A female voice that Sephiroth recognises as the turk Zero's.
In the lobby, the pale-haired child passes his hand slowly to Rufus in silent offering to his previous request, hoping it will keep the boy distracted for long enough. He turns his head towards the blond. His firearm instructor who is currently standing guard for Rufus and himself seems rather inattentive. Her companion, his blade instructor has a much higher perceptiveness combined with a low sense of presence, but her thoughts seem taken by other worries. However, they are both turks after all and it would inconvenience him if he further piqued their suspicions.
Meanwhile the shade gazes at the video footage, an overhead angle of a conference room showing a grainy image of Heidegger at the far end. A spread of papers lie before the man. On the floor beside the conference table a pale haired child straddles another. The sounds of a child's shrill laughter comes through in a strange echo from the speakers.
A slam as Heidegger stands at the far end of the table. Though the shade cannot see the man's expression from its vantage point under the chair it does see it's counterpart jump to it's feet, the movement too fast for the camera to catch making it look like he was kneeling one moment and standing the next. Rufus's counterpart scrambles much slower and more clumsily to his feet, edging closer the already standing boy.
"Here I am, keeping an eye on you care-free children all day. Doing my best to get some real work done. And what do you do? Scream and riot! Playing pranks like uncivilised whelps! Well then, what do you have to say for yourselves?!"
Heidegger's rugged booming voice comes across clearly from the speakers. The Children on the video footage seem small in comparison with the big man, especially with Rufus's counterpart cowering by the shorter boy's side. Meanwhile, said cowering boy had begun tracing the hardened skin of Sephiroth's palms. Much like Professor Hojo had done when it first started developing.
"You seem a little too angered by such a small disturbance. Perhaps something else weighs on your mind? Sad you were left behind, to watch over us?" The Childs higher, smoother voice comes through the speakers surprisingly clearly. The legs around the shade shift somewhat in what seems to be intrigue.
"Your skin feels so thick." Rufus said with interest his voice clear and innocent, trying to pinch Sephiroth's palm with his own soft fingers. The pale-haired boy besides him doesn't bother responding.
"You SOLDIER brat!" Heidegger roars, commencing an aggressive but aborted lunge as Sephiroth's counterpart swiftly pushes the cowering Rufus behind him before hopping onto the table. 'the last movement almost comes off as floating in the cameras. There is no noise from the steps Sephiroth makes on the table, or at least none that the shade can hear.
"So it's SOLDIER which bothers you. So it is. Left behind because SOLDIER does your work in your place." Through the filter of the audio's echo the child's tone sounds mild.
"Sephiroth…" Rufus murmurs.
"What would you know, stupid brat!" Heidegger growl is harder to decipher, through the audio.
"Why would I not know, as the future of SOLDIER. SOLDIER is stronger, faster, more resilient, more adaptable. Simply put, they are more effective."
"How can monsters like you ever replace normal human combatants?" Although Heidegger looks angry his question sounds more composed.
"Sephiroth." Rufus calls again, this time jostling the other boy's shoulder. Green eyes focus briefly on Rufus before seeming to look through the child again.
"We are stepping in a new era, the era of Mako energy. The old ways will fade, replaced with what is more effective. More advance machinery is constantly being made as a more effective replacement for the old. SOLDIER is merely another side of the developments brought about by Mako energy. With new ideas and new techno-"
Rufus leans in towards Sephiroth's ear.
"Are you still listening to that thing?"
"-logy come new methods. The old ways you cling to will be cast away, as will you. As you cling to your old fashioned ways and petty pride, you shall perish in the gutter of Shinra's new world." The Child's tone begins much as it had throughout the recording, flat and factual, but as his spiel continued, his tone softens, seeming to caress every word.
"Hmm…" Sephiroth grunts softly in response. Meanwhile the shade inches closer to the tables edge. It's ghostly hands even sink into and through the floor to get a better view of the screen. There is a distinct tap of a key and the images begin to slow down
"Shut your-" Heidegger bellows, his voice distorted as he suddenly lunges forward the slowed pictures drawing out his intentions in almost exaggerated movements. The pale-haired child on the table instantly adopts a defensive position. The door slams open in slow motion. A blurred figure darts through it. Sephiroth's counterpart begins turning towards the door. Heidegger flinches away, once again his movements almost exaggerated. An outdrawn slamming sound comes across the audio as the dark suited Turk lands kneeling on the table. Rufus's counterpart jolts away, plastering himself against the wall. The Turks left hand pressed to her right ribs reveals a flash of a blade which hones inevitably towards the boy's kidney. Sephiroth's counterpart is suddenly close to the table top, ducking under the hidden blade from behind. The speed of the movements translating into odd disjointed images on the video. In the next instant the pale haired boy is on his feet again, blocking the blade from the front. Seemingly pushed by a force the turk begins to roll over the table. Suddenly air born and spinning the child rapidly blinks larger from the cameras perspective. The child lands on the wall in a crouch, head craned lithely in the direction of Heidegger who's fumbling out a gun and the Turk who is regaining her feet after the tumble over the table. Then the child is suddenly looking towards the door. Another dark suited figure appears, arms lifted with the tell tale dull glint of a gun. The child on the wall falls just as a drawn out bang rings out through the audio.
The Turk pauses the video feed. A pause before a collective breath is drawn by the people in the room. They had seemingly been so focused on the screen they had forgotten to breath. The legs beneath the table noticeably relax and stretch out. A low murmur rises between the employees.
"Promise you will tell me about what you are hearing." Rufus whispers.
The silver haired boy makes a noncommittal sound while the shade agilely avoids one of the legs that stretched out, slowly beginning to retreat farther back under the table.
"Promise me, Sephiroth." Whispers Rufus more insistently, grabbing hold of the younger boys shoulder in a tight grip.
"No." Answers Sephiroth calmly, The shade finally having returned to it's initial position after stepping over a few more legs.
A slow claps cut through the low din of murmurs in the conference room.
"Indeed quite the performance. Highlighting both the Turk's skill and SOLDIERS superior strength and agility." The shade observes the president's legs relax and shift forward as if he is leaning back in his chair.
All of a sudden Sephiroth senses the scent of animosity.
"If you don't-" Slit pupiled eyes flash to the boy beside him. Rufus cuts off in mid sentence, eyes transfixed on the other's.
"Do not threaten me." Murmurs emotionlessly the silver haired boy, so quietly it is but a breath. The only reason Rufus is able to hear it is because he is so close already.
"This does indeed seem to be an unfortunate misunderstanding." Continues the president in the conference room, the shade silently observing the president's large hands appear beneath the table top to grip the armrest.
The scent of what Sephiroth can only identify as excitement bursts from the older boy. He tastes the air just as the shade does the same under the table many rooms away.
Rufus is calm on the surface, but excitement is thick in the air to Sephiroth's senses and with in it he distinguishes joy and a keen interest.
The shade finds nothing.
"From what I have seen, Sephiroth was indeed too quick in instigating aggression. Is this not somewhat concerning?" Continues the President. Hands press down on the armrests to adjust his bulk in the chair.
"Likewise, the Turks under you were also quick to escalate the conflict, Malkhaz." Finishes the president sternly. A deliberate chiding in his voice.
Sephiroth's attention returns quickly to the senses of his shade. Offhandedly aware that Rufus very quickly takes notice of his absence.
"This is not strange." Interjects the voice of professor Hojo. The shade's ears prick up and Sephiroth recognises veiled anxiety beneath the scientists facade.
Rufus moves to clasp his hands together on the younger boy's shoulder.
"Sephiroth is designed to be a warrior, he is trained to seek out threats." States the Professor with confidence. The shade turns to slowly glances at Hojo's legs. They are still. Sephiroth knows the man has become better at hiding his true self. Sephiroth hears, never the less, a hidden uncertainty in the man even through the shade's dull senses.
Rufus places his chin on his clasped hands watching with interest as the others's softly glowing green eyes follow him. The pupils are back to their usual half dilated state with a strange absent quality about them.
"Sir President." Voices a deep timber to the side. The shade's gaze hones in immediately on the shiny shoes and the blue slacks of the male Turk.
"Please, I'm really curious." Whines the presidents son, quietly. Eyes opened wide in fake plea to the uncaring silver-haired boy.
"The Turks in charge of training Sephiroth have reported-"
"Tell meeee~" The boy whines quietly, attempting to shake Sephiroth's shoulder with his clasped hands. An attempt Sephiroth resists with growing annoyance.
"-that he has increasingly desired to enter combat for the past months." The shade slowly turns it's etherial body toward the speaking Turk. Ears pricked, listening for any undertones.
Rufus rests his chin on his clasped hands with a quiet sigh, staring up at the absent green eyes. Tilting his head to the side he whatches with interest as the other's eyes followed his movement. Still absent.
"Incidentally, Sephiroth was observed to have tried to instigate-"
Rufus straightens and lifts a hand to touch the side of the younger boy's pale face. A gesture which Sephiroth decisively ignores.
"-a duel with one of his Turk instructors a month ago."
Rufus hand trails softly against the pale-haired boy's skin. His scent gradually betraying suppressed excitement and pleasure. Sephiroth's eyes narrow slightly, but he does not have time to spare a thought for the older boy's shenanigans.
"According to the report of the Turk, Sephiroth attempted to provoke him using a rhetoric similar to the one recorded during this incident."
Rufus's hand begins trailing over the bridge of Sephiroth's noes, and suddenly grabs it's tip.
"Tell. Me. Please." The child intones jerking the younger boy's noes back and forth.
Green eyes sharpened dangerously onto the mischievous ones of pale blue. Sephiroth's mouth falls open in tandem with the shade's, drawing in a deep breath.
Aside from vindictive gleefulness of the boy in front of him he could also taste a mixture of repressed alarm and interest. From the corner of his eyes Sephiroth can observe his firearms and blade instructor watching them.
The shade could sense nothing from it's dulled senses but it noticed from beneath the table that President Shinra had leaned forward and his hands disappeared from the armrest.
In the end, the pale haired child merely scrunched his noes in protest of his treatment.
"Are you implying that Sephiroth deliberately provoked Heidegger into instigating a fight?"
"Tell me, tell me, tell me~" chanted the boy under his breath. Rufus's naughty hands turned their attention back to the younger boy's cheeks and pinched them into a parody of smiling expression, which made Rufus snigger.
Having enough but under the scrutiny of two Turks, Sephiroth shook off the child's hands and gave in.
"Fine, as long as you stop pestering me." He muttered darkly, hurriedly returning his attention to the events transpiring by his shade's side.
"-Of course Sephiroth is looking for an opponent. He has been trained to fight them and has been ready for months to do so, yet we have not provided one for him. It is a given that he is restless-" interjects Hojo with condescending vehemence.
To Sephiroth, however, there is no question of the fear in Hojo's voice even through the shade.
Meanwhile a smug grin spreads surreptitiously over Rufus's face. Rising onto is knees he drapes himself over the pale haired boy's shoulder.
I knew you'd tell-" Rufus cuts himself off when he notices the two guarding Turks staring at them. Sephiroth feels the boy go tense but quickly relax again.
"Yes, thank you Hojo. Malkhaz." Interrupts the president. The feet slowly shift to look at The pair of polished shoes and blue slacks that have not moved since earlier.
Rufus pouts slowly at the two Turks watching him. As if on cue the Turks turn away, pretending to ignore them. This time the boy remembers to hide the smug smile expressed by his scent.
"Sephiroth is indeed remarkably accomplished in his combative skill set." The Turk responds calmly, his voice slow and deep.
Sinking back into the couch, Rufus snuggles comfortably into Sephiroth's side. Arm still slung over the younger boy's shoulder.
"However, the Turks who are in charge of his training have expressed a concern regarding the safety of initiating duels."
"We should decide a time to meet again." Says Rufus conversationally, still speaking softly but not deliberately so.
"Can your Turks not handle a five-year-old boy?" Asks the president. The shade turns to observe the President's legs but sees only that the man is leaned forward in his chair. Legs spread wide. The president's words should have sounded condescending, but from the tone and posture Sephiroth thinks the man is genuinely probing for an answer.
Lifting a hand, Rufus begins twisting a finger through Sephiroth's shoulder length hair. The seven-year old pauses as if realising what he's doing. Mischievousness flares, and beneath that, a pure curiosity. Spreading his fingers into the strands he brings it to the light and begins to fiddle with it. Sephiroth ignores him.
"There lies part of the problem, sir. In a duel, rules are established to prevent serious injury or prevent the fight from escalate and become more aggressive." As the man speaks the shade begins to notice the legs around the table begin to cross or close, only President Shinra's remain open. "Can a normal 5-year old child be relied upon to not lose themselves in the heat of the moment? Can they understand the significance of restraint even when they want to progress faster?"
"Sephiroth has always been exceptionally disciplined and controlled." Sneers professor Hojo.
"I'll ask father to let you come more often to visit me." Decides Rufus, pulling back his other hand from Sephiroth's shoulders to continue to fiddle with the pale hair with both of his hands.
"If it really were a normal child, it would naturally not be a problem." Continues the Turk, ignoring professor Hojo's interjection. "A normal 5-year-old child is not powerful enough to do harm."
"Maybe I can come and visit you some time too." Pipes Rufus with enthusiasm besides Sephiroth's ear. Beginning to untangle his fingers from the silver hair. The younger boy merely ignores the commotion besides him. Regardless of what he does he trusts that Rufus will do whatever he wants anyway.
"Sephiroth is an enhanced individual. His basic training, enhanced strength and reaction speed are evident in the footage shown just now. Notice this is the his first live combat." The shade listens quietly within the table's shadow as the legs around him begin to move. 'Discomfort' interprets Sephiroth.
"If he were to lose his calm he could do a lot of damage." Finishes the Turk - Malkhaz seriously. Sephiroth makes sure to take note of him. The shade creeps closer lowering it's head to for a better view of this Turk's body.
"I know what we can do!" Shouts Rufus, executing a sharp slap to Sephiroth's thigh. Sephiroth lets out a slow breath, controlling the flinch he'd just about managed to retain. With his attention elsewhere the boy's shout and slap had succeeded in startling Sephiroth out of his focus.
"Granted that Sephiroth is powerful, however, like professor Hojo said, the child seems disciplined and has great mastery of his strength. All I hear is that the Turks do not have the ability to train Sephiroth. Is this correct Malkhaz." The president summarises severely.
"Disregarding the topic of ability-" Malkhaz deflects smoothly. "My Turks in charge of training the SOLDIERS say that they are progressing well. Now that they have acclimatised to their enhancements, perhaps it is more appropriate for SOLDIER to take charge of combat with Sephiroth." Concludes the Turk. Though the shade can't see the man's face, Sephiroth thinks he can hear a smile in the man's voice.
"We'll have a sleep over!" Cries Rufus, jumping up from the couch. Seeing Sephiroth's slow blinks the boy leans over supporting himself on the younger boy's thighs.
"You can come to my place during the day and we'll sleep together at night!" The blond explained with enthusiasm.
As the information registers, horror brings Sephiroth out of his daze. This sleep over sounds like a terrible idea."
Just as he is about to protest, the shade - many rooms away - from the corner of it's vision sees the knees of the second pair of turk legs bend.
Distracted as Sephiroth is it reacts by turning it's head in time to see the woman's head appear beneath the table.
Sephiroth's attention snaps back and the shade is instantly back in the turbulent currents of the life stream.
Beginning to call the fragment of consciousness back to himself, Sephiroth wonders: had he been discovered?
As a shade, his presence in the conference room should have been much less than an actual persons, not needing to breath, or having the same mass. Further more, it's semi-transparence should have been even harder to perceive in the darkness beneath the table.
"Right, it is decided." Announces Rufus, just as the beeping sounds from one of the Turk's pocket.
"Mmm" hums Sephiroth disinterestedly as his Turk instructor pulls out a communicator. Walking quite a distance away she responds to the call.
"Yo Zee!" Responds the Turk cheerily.
"Are…" Sephiroth pricks his ears but can only make out faint electronic sounds which fade into the other ambient noises around them…
"They're both here." Answers the Turk unconcernedly.
"…they…."
"Fooling around mostly-, whispering a bunch like they have some big secret. I tell you, that little prince has no fear, he was just about picking the snot from the freaks nostrils. I can't believe it put up with it. I'd've blown my top already. Guess the little press wouldn't be such a pest if it wasn't acting like a pretty doll, but still. So freaky."
"….doll…look….?" Sephiroth could only make out a few words.
Distracted? Jeez , how am I supposed't know?- Nah, it looked totally disinterested. Yo, why you- hey!" The other party seemed to have hung up and Sephiroth's firearm instructor grumbled disgruntled under her breath as she put the communicator away. "Fuck you, Zee"
Sephiroth glances away as the Turk turned to walk back. Rufus who's attention had also been drawn by the phone call turned back to Sephiroth.
"Did you hear what she said?" Still standing infront of Sephiroth he whispered, this time not approaching too close.
"Yes." Sephiroth confirms. He saw Rufus focusing on his lips, not seeming to hear his whisper but, nevertheless, understanding the simple answer.
"What did they talk about?" Whispered Rufus still bent over with his hands resting on the younger boy's knees.
Sephiroth looks back calmly, not intending to answer.
Catching on quickly, Rufus shakes Sephiroth's legs his face encouraging, the scent of eagerness and frustration mixing in the air.
"Common, you promised you'd tell, me." The blond wheezed.
The pale-haired boy stiffens. Recalling the formers actions, he really had agreed to tell the boy what he had heard in the conference room. With trepidation Sephiroth also recalls what else he seemingly agreed too in his distraction.
A small flame of anger comes alight as he realises how the young Shinra had taken advantage of his moment of weakness, divided in his attention as he had been. Yet, the flame of anger is soon smothered by a blanket of lethargy. In his short life he had never felt so defeated.
However, since their futures seemed further entangled, then Sephiroth would work to gain what he could from this Rufus.
Relaxing tensed muscles he beckons the othe, his posture making a complete turn about.
In his eagerness, the older boy practically sits on the younger boy's lap, seemingly having dropped his sense of decorum around Sephiroth.
Sephiroth sighs before nearing the blond's ear.
"The caller named 'Zee' asked about us." Sephiroth felt the boy still over him, the eagerness fading, replaced by a focus and a very faint burst distinct wariness.
"The Turk answered that we had been 'fooling around' and whispering as if we had 'some big secret.'" Sephiroth feels the older boy's weight on his lap increase as the young Shinra sits down more properly. The playfulness in his scent was now completely gone. In spite of this the boy's outer facade revealed little, still looking eager if a bit stiff.
"She also said you were being a 'pest' and that I was very patient with you." Instead of perking up with indignation, Rufus weight became even heavier, as if reflected his mood. Strands of sadness and frustration introduced themselves to his scent.
In spite of himself, Sephiroth felt a faint intrigue emerge within himself.
"The Turk thought that perhaps if I had been acting less like a 'doll', you would have behaved yourself more properly." Perhaps there some truth to this, but Sephiroth would not forget that Rufus had been trying to gain benefits at the time.
"'Zee' reacted to the word 'doll' and asked if I had seemed 'distracted'" Sephiroth couldn't be sure this was what had been said, but it was what he had deduced from the Turks response. Idly looking at the young ear he was speaking into, he slowly closed his eyes. Tilting his head he slowly breathed in that scent, the scent of awakening fear.
His soul which had been silent for a while, unable to recognise the events around it, stirred from the scent of it's desire. Dark clouds swirled in a fractured memory and the pale reflection of light off metal. Sephiroth continued to speak absentmindedly as he revelled in the fragmented passion within.
"The Turk wasn't sure but thought I looked disinterested instead, whereupon the call was ended." He finished abruptly and put a hand on Rufus hip to push him gently off his lap.
Rufus got off cooperatively and sat beside Sephiroth, drawing his legs up and resting an elbow on them. A hand conveniently in front of his mouth.
"Do you think Zero is Zee?" Asks Rufus quietly, his scent wary. No doubt having taken notice of the guards once more.
Sephiroth tilts his head in the blond's direction, taking note of the boy's mention of the Turk. He indeed thinks the same, but mostly because it had been Zero who had almost caught his shade beneath the table. Rufus, however, seems more familiar with her personally, a complicated mess of emotions churn around him.
In the end he lets the topic rest along with his head on the couch behind him.
"I'm tired." The five-year-old says out loud.
Rufus scent calms, parting way for interest.
"Why are you tired?" The boy asks.
"I'm tired of you." Sephiroth states bluntly.
The young Shinra turns to pout at him, but his scent is amused.
When the night begins, a crowd of steps travel down the empty corridors of the Shinra tower. Sephiroth hears them from afar, and waits in stillness as they approach him.
As they enter the lobby, Rufus jumps up along with the scent of joy and relief.
"Father!" He cries and runs over to the man in his typical burgundy suit. The man smiles but he is to far from Sephiroth for the boy to make out his emotions.
Standing calmly, Sephiroth approaches the group, his eyes sliding to professor Hojo who stands farther back in the crowd.
The man seems tense and tired but not worried. In front of him are both the Turks that had been in the conference room. Zero and Malkhaz. The former staring at him with interest, the later inscrutable but for his deep, dark eyes drawn to the pale-haired boy.
Coming to a stop at a respectful distance Sephiroth cast his eyes back up at the president.
The boy is tranquil. Waiting patiently for his verdict.
Looking sternly down on the young boy, but his hand placed softly on his sons shoulders, President Shinra begins to give his verdict:
"In this incident, you have been found at fault." The mans voice is severe, echoing with a loud clarity in the quiet lobby.
From the corner of his eye, Sephiroth sees Rufus look up at his father then back at the other child. From the mixtures of nervousness, interest and wariness that wafts to the boy from the crowd he can identify the blonds acute concern. The only scent of youth among all the adults.
Unfazed, Sephiroth's gaze does not waver from the president's. Patiently, he waits for what is to come.
"You would have attacked a Shinra executive if not for the Turks' intervention." The man towers over the Sephiroth where he stands alone, facing a crowd of adult. Like a living creature the scent of the crowd adopts a mob's a scent of animosity, only the sent of Rufus's injustice cleaves through the smog. He could see the small pale hand gripping the burgundy lounge jacket.
The silver-haired boy remains tranquil and continues to blink calmly up at the President.
Gradually a scent distinguishes itself from the others. A puzzled interest.
"Taking in consideration your young age and the fact that there were no parties injured, I have decided to be lenient." Continues Shinra with the same severity, but Sephiroth knows the scent of growing fascination belongs to this man.
Rufus's relief peppers the potent mixture, even as the discomfort of the crowd grows.
"I hope this incident does not repeat itself." With those words the President turns to leave and the crowd begins to disperse. Only Professor Hojo hurries towards him.
Sephiroth's eyes do not leave the President's figure, however. Not a moment later, the President turns back.
"Ah, Sephiroth. Answer me this: Who do you serve?" From the scent of warning and plea Rufus is projecting towards him and the nervous scent from the professor who freezes in his approach, the silver-haired boy knows this is a loaded question.
A memory stirs within Sephiroth and his soul, different but striking distinctly the same chord.
'Aren't you a smart boy? Yes, I am President Shinra. But do you know what that means, Sephiroth? It means that I am your master. What ever happens to you, it is because I have decided it. Whatever you do, it is because I have told you to do so. Do you understand?' In this life those were the words the President had spared him when they first met.
Before replying, green eyes drift to wide pale blues. They bear a hidden message and plead for him to understand and use it.
Returning his gaze to the older man's equally cold blue eyes, Sephiroth answers.
"I serve the Shinra."
'For now' from the darkness within, his soul promises.
Unnoticed by most of the executives which are bustling off to their beds, a tense quiet settles between man and child. But Sephiroth knows his words have won favour. Amusement and fascination give the older man away.
A rich chuckle releases the tension, Hojo and Rufus both relax visibly.
"Brilliant! Indeed, there is no better answer!" The president chuckles. Until he narrows his eyes and sneers at the five-year old "I could even say, too brilliant."
Hojo clasps Sephiroth by the shoulder pulling the boy against his side. Wariness in his scent, seemingly for the president, but from the tremble in his body and the hesitation in his movement Sephiroth knows the professor bears a secret unease for the one by his side.
From President Shinra Sephiroth senses no animosity, however. Just like his son, the man seems drawn where others would be repelled.
"Rest well." The man says, before turning around for real this time, towing his son along with him.
Rufus throws a last careless glance back at Sephiroth but leaves a note of relief and satisfaction through his scent.
By his side, the child hears the Professor let out a sigh but he still smells concerned a bout something.
"Let's go Sephiroth. I'll sleep with you tonight."
Green eyes glance quietly at bloodshot hazel ones. Professor Hojo rarely sleeps at the old Shinra building. He always retires to someplace outside.
"I'm tired." Is the only thing Sephiroth says, in the end.
Author's notes:
I'm so frigging glad I'ù done with this Chapter! It was such a pain to write for reasons I think you can guess. I do not recommend trying to write two things happening at once in different places, experience by the same person simultaneously. Bleerg!
Comments&reviews:
A HUGE thank you to Sanarah, if not for their comment I wouldn't have gotten my ass into gear to finish this chapter at this point in time. To say the least the comments are so motivating. Also want to thank all the people who favourited or gave kudos during this almost year long perisod, being the notifications come in made me always remember that there were still people who enjoyed this work. As always I thank all those who commented on the last chapter as well, tocasia, wayward_dragon, Morganna Saphire Raven, Lunanimes, Sephiroth'sGhost, Beedingangel95 and Guest. :)
There are so many things only written in my drafts that I want to share with you, not for a second did I think of not returning to this fic. Hopefully Everyone will enjoy this chapter.
And yes, the sleep over is going to happen. No sure of Rufus visiting Sephiroth though. That would have to be when he's a lot older I think, don't have a draft of that written down anywhere so it might not come true.
Next chapter: Letter from Gast, and maybe our first lesson with SOLDIER. ^^