Chapter 20. Conscience.

Sephiroth's POV

I sighed silently, two of my fingers squeezing the bridge of my nose. I closed my eyes, annoyed and without patience.

It was the second time the President summoned us after the mission on the AVALANCHE Base.

And I hated to be lecture like an irresponsible child. The President talked, talked, hit us with his disappointment. And if I wasn't the one he wanted to hit and massacre verbally, it all felt too real for me to bear. It reminded me of my cold and impersonal childhood, in those freaking labs with that piece of meat called Hojo, constantly poisoning my senses.

Veld was the one the President was blaming - apparently the good man leading the company had developed the idea the head of the Turks was the one responsible for the security leak of late. Steven's attempt of murder included.

And no matter what I said to the man - that the person involved had used a specific modus operandi, that it had been impossible for any guard to prevent. Unless, of course, if the killer had had help on the inside. Honestly, I found very hard to believe Veld was the one responsible for the whole thing but…. Truth was, who actually knew?

Once again, my thoughts traveled towards her.

That damned woman plaguing my senses since the day she got here.

"You are relieved from your duties as the head of the Department of Administrative Research."

The President's sharp sentence woke me up from my day-dreaming reasoning. My stare focused on him, sitting at the desk, then to Veld, and finally back to the President again.

It took me a couple of seconds to process his decision. He was - clearly - overreacting.

Veld held the most flabbergasted face in the Planet, his mouth half-open. I decided to intervene.

"Sir… Wouldn't that be excess-"

"NO!"

The President hit the furniture with his fisted hand, making a dry noise. Silence followed and I gulped dry, a little amazed at such reaction. Usually the President was calm, controlled and thoughtful - yet today the man was angry and unnerved, as if Veld was the rotten element of the whole company.

Talking about directing anger towards someone.

The whole show made me wonder… if this was really of the President's making. These sudden opinions, this sudden… hate?

It wasn't normal.

"With all due respect, Sir," I started, calm and polite, facing the head of the Company. "Veld is a respectful Turk and responsible leader. There was nothing Veld could have done to prevent the death of those two elements of his own guard in the last minute. There was nothing to be done against a self-destructing device programmed since… forever." The words came out easily, and I knew I had to talk some sense to the man I respected, because my instinct rarely disappointed me. "Everything was done according to plan and I am sure everything was done to secure the area and prevent-"

"You weren't even there to testify such things, General."

So harsh.

"I wasn't, but my men, namely Zack Fair, handed me a very thorough report." I insisted, hoping the man would soften a bit. "It was inevitable, Sir. All of it. Despite the advantages we had, no one could have changed it, not even myself."

The President stilled for a while, his stare on me and Veld.

Until he finally spoke.

"The decision is made. Heidegger will take over to command the Turks in Junon. You're both dismissed."

And with that, what choice did we have but to leave the President's office, in silent and defeated.

-/-

Veld looked like a destroyed man.

I had seen that look in many faces, but I had to admit the sight was worthy of pity. He didn't deserve to be put aside like that, it was a fact - even if he, in fact, was the leak the President claimed he was.

"My career is done." He said, as he walked towards the elevator. "I will never-"

"Ease up." I said, my eyes on him. "Let's be rational for a moment."

We both stopped, as we waited for the elevator to arrive.

"This is not of your making, it makes no sense. All of it is illogical. The President is clearly being… advised against you. So we'll wait, patiently, and we'll figure this out, Veld."

I didn't know where the words had come from. I just knew - felt things were the way I was describing.

Veld's eyes shone for a moment, and I sensed where his mind was flowing to.

Her.

Damn.

"Would you ask her about it? About… me?"

I took a deep breath, knowing it wouldn't be a good idea. Stevens only disclosed what she considered… adequate, for the moment. I couldn't assure him she would say the words he wanted to hear.

"I can try. But I can't assure you there will be an answer, if any."

"Please. Anything will do."

Man, I hated to hear a man beg. Namely, to me. It felt… weak. All the shades of wrong.

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, General."

Veld smiled faintly - a sad smile, as he took the stairs down instead the elevator. He walked like a defeated man, a terminal being abandoning the lair until tiredness would take away all his vitality. Veld was in this company for years, and eventually all this felt like bitter treason to him.

And as I stilled inside the elevator, I considered checking on Stevens again.

Only for Veld's sake. Of course.

Only for someone else's benefit, I said to myself, hoping my inner voice would reassure me.

Elie's POV

My head hurt a little.

I had never been stitched in my scalp, but I had to admit the task had been horrible. From the anesthetic to the stitching itself.

Those had been the most painful pair of stitches of my life.

The injury had been in the right side - a scrap of cement had done the deed, after someone with lack of aim shot the wall instead of me.

My fingers touched the sensitive scalp, and the sensation was weird. John had been beyond careful during the whole process, always asking if I was okay, if I felt any pain.

He was so cute.

Too bad my heart didn't ache for him that way. Honestly, I wished it did.

I had the feeling we would get along just fine - he was everything a woman like me might want - in theory.

However, the most important thing missed between us - chemistry. There wasn't any. At least, not from my part.

I shook my head softly, trying not to make sudden movements. I was still on painkillers, but John had advised me to take things easy.

I sighed as I touched the obvious lack of hair around the wound.

I looked like a punk of sorts - long brown wavy hair with a geometrical bald area decorating my cranial anatomy.

I tried to hide the area with my hair but it was pretty obvious I had that hair opening there.

Jesus, how things were rolling down that hill since 0002 had begun, ha?

A soft, metallic noise took me out of deep thinking.

I turned to see who it was - and the sight of him made my insides chirm.

The memories of yesterday were still very vivid, and I still felt very hurt with his attitude towards me.

Come on, staring at me that way? Then, almost getting me killed?

What was he thinking anyway?

"Hum." I snorted, turning my face to the window again.

The day was bright and shine, all I needed was gloomy Sephiroth to ruin it. Come to think of it, he was a pro at it.

Ruining.

"Don't 'hum' me."

His tone couldn't annoy me more. So, even if I felt my pulse in the wound on my head, I narrowed my eyes and smiled softly at myself.

You're gonna get it.

"Hum..." I repeated, again, my stare on the window again.

But, confronted with his lack of reaction, I decided to look back at him - and what I saw pleased me immensely: he was making the most annoyed face in the world.

I rose one of my eyebrows and crossed my arms, my right shoulder now resting close to the window.

"What, what would you do if I 'hum''d you again? Put me out in the open yet again? Maybe next time I'll get hit in the head for real."

Which was probably what you wanted to happen, am I right?, my mind continued, but I didn't have the guts to say it. It would perspire weakness and I feared my thought was, in fact, accurate.

I didn't know why, but the thought of my safety being indifferent to him made my chest ache.

Uh, that couldn't be a good thing.

I saw the General avert his stare from mine and sigh. And then, he advanced towards me - what made me tense immediately.

Closeness was a duality when it came to him. I feared it, feared him in a sick, pleasant way.

It was insane.

When he finally got close to me, I averted my stare from him. My sight focused on the landscape outside, as the General spoke.

"Stop whining, Stevens. You're alive, aren't you?"

I took a deep breath, not answering him. I didn't have an answer, didn't have words to offer him. A slap, maybe. Or several, who knew? But no, not words. He didn't deserve them.

"Well, I am here on behalf of someone."

I made a face, shaking my head.

"You don't say."

"Don't be smug, it's annoying."

"Likewise." I declared, taking my time finding his eyes.

"Veld asked me to ask you a question."

"Oh."

"The President-"

"-dismissed him, and put Heidegger in charge."

Sephiroth's stare was intense and unreal, as he heard me speaking.

"So, Veld is freaking out about it, right?"

He took his time answering.

"In a matter of speaking."

Okay, so I was doing this for Veld, who was pretty much okay and didn't deserve to be put aside like this.

"Tell him not to worry. He'll get his job back."

"You seem very certain of that."

"Heidegger won't be brilliant in Junon, if you understand what I mean. And besides… Veld has things in common with the President."

"Things?"

"Secrets."

The General narrowed his eyes at me, and I got his point.

"Veld is a good person, but he's not innocent." I stated. "Neither of us are."

Sephiroth's stare was clinic, as he scanned my face and my… head.

"Nice stitches, Stevens." He said, his tone ironic."Was John the artist on that piece?"

"He was."

What was his problem with John and me? He was always so bitter and ironic when John's concerns on me were obvious. Damn, didn't this guy know that it was normal to care about others? That was just being human, hello?!

Man, I had to stop thinking this way - or I would go insane. Just like him. So I decided to change subject - for my own sake. Talking about the next mission would suit me just fine.

"Junon will be fine. No casualties, that I know of."

I smiled ironically at me.

"I hope so. Last time our efforts didn't avoid the inevitable."

His words were like stones being hit at me. What?

My un-acknowledgment on the matter was pretty obvious.

"What do you mean?"

Sephiroth's stare on mine soften a little. He didn't hid how surprised he was that I didn't know the news.

"Didn't John tell you? Two Turk members died."

"Turks?" I said, my tone higher. "Who?"

My heartbeat rose and all I could think was: please let it not be Reno or Rude or anyone from the team I know of.

"I'm not familiar with their names. But John can show you their files."

My mouth was half-open and my eyes wide open with shock. Why didn't John tell me two persons had actually died in the last mission!? I had the right to know, damn it! I was the one giving information so that no one died and now… this?

I couldn't feel more frustrated.

"God."

Sephiroth made a face as he observed my reaction.

"Does that affect you that much, Stevens?"

"I'm… disappointed. That's all."

"On yourself?"

As always, the General was very perceptive.

"What good am I if I just can't prevent people from dying?" I admitted. "What is my use here?"

Faced with my genuine speech, the General took one step further. He has breached my security safety distance by now and I didn't like that much - but he never let my stare and made it quite obvious our gaze must be locked the whole time.

How, don't ask me why, but there was no way I could leave the stare of the man that made my face angle up to keep us leveled - kind of. His height was something obscene and not to mention his physique. He was so unreal but yet, he was here - right in front of me, about to tell me something deep and genuine.

His hair - metallic gray and light as a feather, looked gorgeous. His facial lines, the elegancy of his stance… it was all too much for a mortal like me to bear.

"You told us everything, didn't you? Every detail, every little thing you recalled and knew."

I nodded, incapable of saying a word. He was right, and he was being serious and talking business and I knew it, but I couldn't stop thinking how handsome he actually was.

Just… basic thoughts like that one stole all my coherency.

"So… you're in peace with your conscience." He declared. "That's what matters."

And, confronted with my silence, he kept on.

"That will be the only thing soothing your soul at night. Believe me."

My heartbeat was peaking right now.

And, without a word more, he disengaged his stare from mine and left - I remained alone in my premises, my heart having a bad time returning to the normal frequency.

Medina's POV.

The laboratory consumed me more than usual today. I didn't have time to check on Elie since yesterday, an assistant of mine scanning her wound instead of me.

Although, I knew the guard was there, and no one got in or out the floor without my consent. SOLDIER and Turks took shifts of guarding Elie and I was pretty much at rest with that particular issue by now.

Still, I couldn't think someone had actually tried to kill her. The thought consumed me… worried me.

Namely because the vital moments would be at hand… and also because I cared about her, in a not-so-wise way.

I hated to feel like this about her. But she was so sweet, so… cute and understanding. It was inevitably not to be fond of her.

The General had come to see her today, for a change.

I didn't hid how it displeased me. The man had a strange influence on her and I knew he fascinated her in a way. She had told me things about him that justified that fascination and I totally got it.

But still. Having him talk to her in her premises gave me the chills. And… it made me jealous, in a way.

I knew it was wrong, I knew I had no right to feel this way… but truth was, feelings were there before I could breathe.

Matters of the heart sucked. I had been in love a couple of times, so I recognized the damn feeling at once.

I wasn't lucky in matters of the heart. Never been. My love would be science and investigation, period. Having women to care about me in a special way… wasn't part of my league.

By the end of the day I found some time to check on Eleanor. I found her by the window, staring at the rain that poured over Midgar, a rather depressing landscape to watch at.

"Hi." I said, with a sample of smile on my face.

She didn't react, didn't look at me.

"Hey."

The tone had been dry enough for me to grasp something was not okay with her. What, had it been me? Or him?

"Are you okay?" I said, approaching her. I stood still next to her, close to the window, hoping she would look at me eventually.

I saw how she took a deep breath and crossed her arms, her stare not searching mine. Which meant she was either angry or very annoyed. Or both.

"The General told me two Turks died in the attack at the Icicle Inn."

Oh. That.

"It's true." I admitted.

And it was immediate - her eyes met mine and I found there… disappointment. Betrayal. My heart lit a bit, hoping she would nurture something more tender over me.

Such intensity couldn't' be that naïve, right?

"Why didn't you tell me that?" Her tone was shallow and sad. "John…"

I breathed in deeply and tried to explain her why I hadn't been truly honest with her… yet.

"I didn't want you to feel… frustrated." I said, our stares locked. "I know you put your heart and soul into everything you say and do and… I just didn't want you to feel that what you did didn't stop… fate from happening."

She closed her eyes, shaking her head. Worry was over her complexion.

"That is terrible, you know."She admitted, her eyes on the landscape again. "That is actually starting to worry me, a lot."

I took my time doing the math. It was obvious enough what worried her.

"Because of the General?"

"Yes."

But of course. That corrosive feeling had returned again, invading me in waves.

"Do you think you won't be able to stop him?"

"Thing is… It does not depend on me. It's all about the circumstances. I am going to need a lot of help when the moment comes. Or this place will be doomed."

She was right. Really. And what else could I do but to assure her?

"You can count on me. For anything."

She smiled faintly at me. It was soft, but it was a smile - enough to lighten what was left of the day.

"Thanks, John." She said, squeezing my hand. "Thanks."

Elie's POV.

My eyes faced the roof of my premises, my eyelids decided not to shut down for a long time.

Wide awake in the middle of the night. Nice.

I sighed, turning to the moon light the open window provided me. It bathed the room with a bluish tone, so different from the white one I was used to.

I got up, putting my jeans and a shirt over my pj's.

Man I needed to breathe fresh air. Most definitely. So, with those military boots and uncombed hair, I got out the room, finding a very stiff SOLDIER by the door. And as I put my wool coat on, ee both stared at each other with amazement.

He wasn't expecting me… and so wasn't I.

"Good night… Strife."

He was exactly as I'd seen him in the screen. Kind eyes, blond and spiky hair, the face of a man who is trying constantly to prove himself.

And yet, here he was, guarding my door at… 2:50 in the morning.

"Ma'am." His voice was exactly as I recalled, as he nervously called me in such a respectful way. I couldn't help but to smile at him.

God, I was so happy to see him.

"It's okay, call me Elie. Or Stevens, whatever you like." I informed, hoping he would loosen up a bit. "I would like to go upstairs to the roof for a little air, is that okay?"

"Just a second." He said, communicating with someone by some ear device. I hoped he would let me go up there… and who knew, accompany me. I would love to talk to him some more.

It was Cloud Strife after all. The man who would save the Planet if… If, I sighed.

"Ten minutes, miss Stevens." He declared, serious. "That's the allowed at this time of the night."

"It's fine." I said, nodding, wondering who would made up such silly rules. Man, anything would do by now.

"I'll escort you." He said, making his way to the double doors and pressing a consistent amount of digit codes.

This is serious, I thought. It was a grim perspective, in fact. Being guarded like this was… a nightmare. No privacy, no liberty.

Rufus Shinra really wanted to erase me from the surface of this Planet.

The elevator ride to the top floors was silent, and I didn't miss how Strife delivered our location to someone on the other side of the line.

Once we reached the top, he informed me of the rules once again.

"You must remain by the door. No wandering by the building limits."

"Okay." I said, and as the elevator doors opened, there were two Turks there already.

I knew who they were, perfectly. Reno and Rude.

I smiled faintly at them, glad they made the damn mission alive. God. It was painful to think they would die because of me.

"Ten minutes. Counting now."

"Thank you."

As soon as the roof door opened, I welcomed the fresh, icy breeze.

It made my head wound hurt, made my eyes teary… but I didn't care. It felt like a blessing. The moon was high, the stars shone and the sky was so beautiful it almost hurt.

My heart ached the how beautiful the sight was… and how soothing and freeing this Planet was.

A paradise. In every possible way.

I stood there, my face angled up, for what it seemed like eternity.

My thoughts wandered, recalling mainly Sephiroth. His presence, his intense staring and the way his gaze had talked to me the other day, right before I almost got shot.

What a riddle that man was. A very sexy, desirable… dangerous and mortal riddle. He was everything altogether, at the same time, mixed in a way only randomness would achieve.

The breeze soothed me once again, alerting me to be more objective.

Man. I knew I shouldn't think of him like that… but thing was, there was so much of him that still was worth fighting for.

He had potential… both ways. To the bad. And to the good, as well.

I have to save him, my mind whispered, as my heartbeat peaked. The sight of the stars shining, the wonderful color of the dark, night sky provided me strength to do whatever I had to do.

No matter how, I have to.

And with that thought, I closed my eyes once again, breathing in the cold air around me. I only hoped to succeed.

That was all I wanted right now.

"It's time."

A voice took me out of my dreaming.

Strife.

"Okay. Let's get going."

We both turned back, now inside the building again. It was warm and comfy, so different from outside. Cold provided a strange comfort, on its own way.

Cloud Strife and I walked in a row delimited by the two Turks, in silence, as we reached the elevator doors.

The silence was nerve-wrecking.

So, once inside the big metal box going down, I dared to say something to Cloud.

"You're going to make it, Cloud Strife. Just… be more confident."

His eyes found mine, confusion all over him. Okay, so I got why.

"Yes, I'm talking about becoming a SOLDIER." I said, smiling softly at the man in front of me. "It is going to happen. Sooner than you might think."

He sighed, and averted his stare from mine.

"Well… It's hard to believe, since I'm just-"

"Things will change. Trust me on that one." I interrupted, hoping I would reassure him.

"Really? What kind of change?"

I rose my eyebrows as I thought of the change I needed so bad to happen.

"Well… a good one, I hope."

"You hope?"

I nodded, hoping the gesture would encourage him… and me as well. God knew I needed that. "We're working on it." I declared, with a confident tone. "And, against all odds, I believe I'm going to make it. Just like you should do."

Our stare locked again, and what I saw there wasn't that nice.

"Yeah."

"So little faith, Cloud Strife." I whispered, and dared to try another approach. "What would your mother say? Or your friend Tifa?"

And it kind of worked.

"Do you… Do you know them?"

"Kind of." I admitted. "Tifa's very proud of you. Of what you achieved."

He blinked at me, as if not believing my words.

"But I'm just a-"

"You are what you are now, but will become much more. Trust yourself."

"Uh…"

And as the elevator door opened, someone was there waiting for us.

My heart almost skipped a beat at sight - of him. The General. Without his leather gear, but only with black pants and shirt, and… shoes. The sight was mesmerizing, not only because of his good looks, but because… I had never seen him dressed like that.

At 3:15 a.m.

"Stevens, you shouldn't be out here in the open."

"B-But-"

"Go back inside, please."

As I walked towards the coded, metallic doors, I felt his hand on my back, the contact affecting me more than the acceptable.

Come on. What was this, at this time of the night?

The Science Division was asleep and the last glimpse I had of Cloud was through the door, as it closed.

He had the most flabbergasted face on Earth and I… pretty much the same.

So, in the dark and shadow that invaded the whole floor, I remained alone with the General… the both of us standing there, in the hall… like in a romantic date from Hell or something.

Anxiety consumed me, as I recalled I had my pj's underneath the clothes. It was a very unnecessary thought, but there it was.

Inevitably, in the lack of something to do, my eyes found his.

And surrounded by shadow, intermittent red lights and in the dark, his green eyes shone, so alien and so… amazing that I… didn't have words to describe how magic the moment was being.

It was simple, and so easy to let go. Forget where I was, the context, the circumstances and just… let go. Rest my face on his chest, close my eyes and just be. That would do, I didn't need anything else.

"What are you doing awake at this time of the night?" I asked, my voice feeble. I almost added the 'and why are you here?', but I didn't have the guts to ask that question.

Thing was, I was afraid to know the answer. Part of me wanted to know, but then, part of me didn't. As simple and dysfunctional as that.

"You're not the only one with sleeping problems, Stevens."

His rasp, low voice did terrible things to my physiology. Thing was, I didn't know if he was angry, annoyed or just… being terribly sexy over nothing.

It was so unreal as the hour.

"You're dressed like…" I admitted, surprised at my courage. "Do you have your pj's underneath it as well?"

The General smiled faintly at me, seemingly amused with my obnoxious question.

Stupid! Stupid! I widened my eyes at my own nonsense, and tried to make it right.

"Forget it, don't answer it. Just don't."

He scanned the void that surrounded us and became a little more serious.

"Try not to make these night walks, it's dangerous."

Yeah, I knew it was. But…

"I needed fresh air. As simple as that."

"You might get killed. As simple as that."

His coldness had returned and I gulped dry at how it affected me… and how right he was, in fact.

I was being reckless, I knew it. But a girl had needs. And these were pretty basic, in fact: fresh air. Hot Sephiroth.

"Uh, God…"

I said, putting my hands on my eyes and praying for self-control. Man, my mind was really dirty at late hours.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing." I said, gulping dry again and trying to gain some composure. "I'm just… sleepy, I guess."

He took his time answering me.

"Let's get you inside your premises."

He made a sign with his head and I didn't have much choice but to obey.

We got inside the coded doors again, the massive thing making a loud click as it closed. I searched for the lights, but there was only blue moonlight invading the room.

My bed was unmade, the whole place looked like fantasy. A very vivid dream where I remained standing with the most powerful man on the Planet dressed like a sexy model somewhere-

"Outch."

I had bumped my head on something. Was it a wall? I reached my hand to my head as I tried to grasp where on Earth had I bumped on to, but there wasn't much effort needed to find that out.

It was black.

Black cotton caressing my scalp and hand.

His chest.

Coming to terms to the situation I was in almost made me die with embarrassment in that very moment.

It was a lot to process at the same time. His form right there, so close to me, then the whole mental questioning 'how did I bump into him like this', and finally letting myself consume by the fact I was actually so close to him it hurt.

Adrenaline pumped inside me and I felt lost of what to do, what to say.

"I'm sorry," I said, and I was willing to repeat myself all the times I had to. "I'm sorry, I-I didn't-"

"It's okay." His voice, strangely soft, answered me.

"I…"

"I said it's okay, Stevens."

And, in that moment, facing such a soft, tender Sephiroth, I let my guard down, eyed him straight in the eye and dared to ask him the question my mind plagued me with.

"What are you doing here?"

The question had been asked with the most genuine tone. Our stares - locked in a way I hadn't, ever, felt or…or…

"I don't know."

His answer had been… well, pretty awesome. Vague, yet it said so much. The content, however, was unknown.

What was happening?

What was this, flowing between us?

Curiosity?

My hand lowered from my wound, and I wondered what I should do next. Should I dare?

Touch him?

My eyes blinked as I tried to grasp what he wanted of me. His stare didn't disclose much, it was all a blur… it was everything and nothing, it confused me... and him.

Eventually, my instincts overran me.

My fingers touched the fabric of his shirt, and I gulped dry - again. I had the feeling I would gulp dry a lot in the next seconds.

My stare wasn't on his eyes anymore. I was indeed marveled with the physical superiority he held. Now - only now I could admire it properly.

I didn't realize I was approaching him, closing space - so slowly it hurt. And he was, surely, watching me, analyzing me like he always did.

But then again, when I thought the tension would be unbearable to bear, he did something unexpected.

His left hand grabbed my wrist, holding it in place. I shivered out of fear… and whatever it felt like beyond that. Man, he was so hot.

Something worse was about to happen.

His right arm surrounded me, and I felt his touch on my lower back.

The space between us disappeared and I remained with my face hitting his chest - and as his body slowly bended towards me, I felt my breath catching and pulse racing dangerously.

What is he doing?

The question was there, and my eyes were wide, wide open. He smelled divine, neat and manly, driving my senses crazy.

The torture stopped when I felt hot on my right ear.

He stopped there and I felt him linger, his breathing hitting my anatomy once… twice… and-

"You have to tell me."

I was panting. Really, it ashamed me but I was.

I was glued to him, feeling a man of his… rate, and the sensation was almost killing me. Man. What was he talking about?

I bit my lip in despair, hoping to sound coherent… at least.

"What do you want me to tell you?"

His answer was quick.

"Everything."

His demand was tender and harsh, at the same time.

And I felt tears overwhelm me as images of what he would become invaded my mind. How could it be possible - now, he was so desirable, holding me like this, like… he cared.

How I wanted him to remain like this… forever.

Feeling my heart in pain, I dared to act. I didn't care about the consequences.

All I wanted was to be like this, with him, for a while longer.

I loosened my right hand from his grasp - and he let my hand go. Then, my hand, and arm, searched for his neck.

I hugged him completely, my face closing distance with his neck.

I closed my eyes, a pair of tears falling.

I couldn't help it, I wanted him alive so bad I… I dared to speak my heart for the first time in years.

"I don't want you to die."

I sensed him tense, as he breathed, under my hold.

"I don't. I consumes me… the thought of you turning into-"

"Stop."

His voice made me tense as well. And, with a shallow breath, I saw how he broke apart from me, his face stern and serious as… as his usual self.

I gulped at his sudden reaction, feeling hurt and exposed, and I cleaned the remnants of tears I had shed seconds ago.

I felt terribly.

God, what had this… been?

"Good night, Stevens."

I couldn't say a word.

I was paralyzed.

And as I saw him leave my room, I finally drew a deep breath - of relief, I didn't know.

All I knew was… that it had been one hell of a ride.

A/N - Tension, lots of it. Things are getting intense between them and that's very cool. Elie and Sephiroth had a lot in their minds but the attraction is inevitable.

Let's see how this progresses with Neibelheim close nearby.

:) read and review, I am delighted with your feedback and can't wait to read some more, your opinions and such!

Have a nice weekend!