Chapter 34. The Training Room.
Elie's POV
Days went by with no significant occurrences.
A routine had been settled and the weekend - yes, weekends existed in this reality as well, and I couldn't wait to engage in some trip to visit Midgar with Reno.
Come on, I wanted to see the city, visit what I had seen so many times in a virtual setting. Things were going smoothly at work, with Sephiroth absent most of the time. He seemed to be absorbed in something, a mission I assumed - even if I didn't recall a thing he might be involved with in the post-Nibelheim scenario.
Of course, he would be dead - so the original plot wouldn't, per se, include him in anything. Which left me completely in the dark considering his doings. It was a fact I had a secretive curiosity over what he did, his hobbies and interests outside Shinra, but… he was very hard to reach.
Since he didn't bothered or didn't want to tell me what he was so absorbed in - why should he, if I was just a mere assistant of sorts, - I didn't insist on it. Which didn't mean I wasn't curious.
His seriousness, as always, was an impenetrable wall. Well, most of the times. There were moments he seemed to lower those defenses and just be… so… amazingly possessive over my integrity it actually excited me. And not in a very innocent way.
I was seriously afraid of falling for him. Feelings, strong emotions over a man like Sephiroth would only mean one thing: that I would get hurt, no matter what. Yep, that was what my mind told me all the time.
But oh, all that unstoppable fluttering I felt when his eyes met mine. It was like the green in his eyes whipped me on the inside, squeezed my heart and made me inhale deeply… for control.
Deep down inside I wanted it to be only an infatuation. A fascination - that would fade away in time. Everybody knew - and I of all persons, knew he was special, in every aspect.
But caring for him had its tricks. And I couldn't - shouldn't overfeel things.
Because of all the things I had granted, disenchantment would be very certain.
I shook my head at my thinking.
Man, I didn't recall feeling like this in years. Opposite gender dilemmas. Right.
Eventually, of all the times I gave considerate thought about the matter - which were more times per day than the acceptable, it was a fact, - I decided: simply, don't push and just let things flow. Time would give me the right answer.
And it wasn't an option to mention my emotional doubts with someone. The risk of gossip was high and… well, if I eventually talked it out with John, I knew my declaration would disappoint him, in a way. He was such a friend, such an amazing guy… but all this I felt was simply too risky to share with someone.
Hell, it scared me. But I had to believe it was just a phase.
That's it, Elie, it's just a phase, I said to myself. A phase I was shameful of sharing with someone because the chance of all this strange feeling thing being reciprocal was absurd.
So, what did smart-ass Elie do when she wanted to take her mind out of the gutter?
My eyes landed on the clock by the wall of the office: 3.p.m.
And my reaction was immediate.
"Reno?" I asked, mobile phone on my ear as I gathered the papers by the desk, my boring tasks done for the day.
"Yo, hungry?"
I laughed at his reasoning.
"No, but I'd like to ask you something."
The line was silent for a while and I sensed the Turk thinking.
"Whatever you want."
I smiled to myself, with a naughty smile, and gave it a go.
"Training room LV 49. Where is it?"
"Why?"
I didn't like Reno's reaction but I decided I would be honest.
"I'm curious." I admitted, "I've heard about it and I would like to see it live."
"Uh… dunno if I can, but-"
"Please!"
I was begging but what the Hell, I needed a break after the stressful week I had had.
"Okay, let me see what I can do okay?" He declared. "That thing is not properly open for visiting-"
"2nd Class train there, I know, but they have schedules. Everyone does."
I smiled silently, seeing the odds changing.
"I'm actually very busy right now but I'll figure out a way as soon as possible. Pay attention to your cell."
"Thanks."
The line was dead in a matter of seconds and I smiled widely to myself.
Ah, I so needed to breathe some fresh air! Do something besides being sit here, day after day!
My desk was neatly arranged and all my duties done.
And I didn't know where the General was - as usual. He had passed by this morning, ordered me around and left me sitting here since then.
So, I would assume weekend was upon me.
Which felt GREAT, for a change!
"Miss Stevens?"
I jumped, a little surprised with the voice coming out of nowhere. My eyes met blue ones and I couldn't help but to smile.
"Cloud Strife?" I left the chair where I had been sitting and walked towards him. "What are you doing here?"
He answered me with an open smile and that shy expression of him. Oh, Cloud, Cloud.
"Reno asked me to pick you up."
My eyes opened wide in amazement.
"Wow, how efficient," I couldn't help to admit.
Cloud smiled back.
"Let's go, the LV 49 is settled in a different building."
"Oh, I'll be on my way, let me pick my stuff."
I grabbed my phone, home keys in my coat and some Gil I had there for my daily meals. I felt like a five year old about to get inside Disneyland, the expectation of seeing The training room - the very same one where Sephiroth kicked Genesis' ass, that epic scene that threatened to take my breath away… and most of the ff7 fans, of course.
We left the floor, talking casually.
I asked him things about the SOLDIER training, and Cloud seemed to be very enthusiastic about it.
"I'm glad everything's going okay." I admitted. "I told you you'd make it" I added, blinking at Cloud, who blushed in reaction.
"Well, it's a shame Zack's not here to witness it."
And that took the smile of my face in that exact moment.
"Cloud-"
"I know, I know." He began, "I know he was responsible for his own… destiny. And I am aware that no one could have stopped him. He was… out of his mind."
I nodded, feeling guilt all over. The memory of Zack dying in front of me, impaled like a piece of meat, gave me shivers. And the thought of having him secretly dead inside a freezer was not only disturbing. It was shocking. I felt so bad just thinking about it.
"What?" Cloud asked, and I realized I had been in silence for too much time. We had walked in silence during my little mental journey to my own world. Where all the shit rested.
"Nothing." I said, my tone feeble.
"You're kind of pale, was it something I said?"
Oh-uh.
I cleared my throat at Cloud's statement, and decided to clear up my head. I couldn't give away my insecurity to him or he would suspect something was going on Zack-related.
"Uh… no, it's just…" I hesitated, and realized things weren't going the right way. "I don't know what to say to make you feel better."
I was being honest, and feeling a little despaired.
Our pace slowed and I realized we had reached the destination. The Training room door displayed the numbers LV 49, in bold dark red and I all felt was anticipation. It was good to finally have something to change subject.
"How about the truth?"
Cloud's words made me gulp dry, as he opened the door. So much for the change-subject theory. Cloud was focused on getting the conversation on and I so didn't want to go that way.
My eyes scanned the place, tiled with digital screens, or so it seemed, and it was huge. I couldn't see an end to it, and it was dark inside, only a ground path recognizable with green spots here and there.
Their technology was something mesmerizing.
"Did he suffer?"
I massaged my forehead with my right hand, my fingers reaching the creases forming there. Man, this was going downhill faster than I could predict. I didn't want to push the subject and Cloud insisted in a way that suffocated me.
"What?" I asked, so I could gain some time.
I had no idea what to offer, what lie should I tell him for him to stop talking about Zack.
"Zack."
Yeah, I know.
Impressively, Cloud's insistence was taking away all the magic I thought I would find in LV 49.
"Uh… I… Strife, I don't know what I am supposed to tell you about that, I-"
"Is he in peace?"
His words made me shiver. The answer was obvious: No.
"It's not that simple, Strife." I sighed, and prayed for… inspiration to make something up.
"It's all he wanted." Cloud declared, pushing some buttons on a random wall, and the whole place transformed into… Junon Canon. I opened my mouth at the hugeness of the thing, as we - me and Cloud - stood over it.
"All he wanted was to rest in peace."
My eyes met Cloud's and I found it difficult to focus. His words touched me and I wanted so bad to tell him the truth and, at the same time, the virtual setting bombarded me with stimuli. The sea breeze, the sun in the horizon, the orange-pinkish light hitting us, it all felt too unreal and at the same time so absorbing… I felt I would like to be in this place forever.
Even knowing it wasn't real.
"Things aren't that simple, Cloud." I declared, without knowing what I would say to the man, begging me silently with hurt blue eyes. "Zack-"
"Is there a problem?"
The moment was suddenly interrupted.
My mind made the association with voice recognition and I only knew it was Sephiroth because my body reacted to his voice. Stomach fluttering - lots of it, was a shameful sign he was around.
He kept staring, slowly approaching us, like a God damned predator, as if he had caught us doing something naughty.
"No."
"No."
We had answered out of reaction, a childish chorus that didn't contribute at all to improve the situation. And once Sephiroth approached enough, I sensed him angry. Mad, to be precise. His eyes left mine and focused on Strife's - going straight to the point.
"You're dismissed, Strife."
"But, sir-"
"I said, you're dismissed."
I gulped dry, feeling my heart heavy, my eyes following Cloud's figure until he left the room. The virtual reality didn't faded and suddenly, all I heard was the sound of the waves, down there, hitting the shore, a cold wind blowing and the sun meeting the horizon line.
"Don't be so hard on him." I said, and felt Sephiroth's hard stare on me. "He grieves Zack, it's only normal that-"
"You cannot tell him Zack is stuck in your world." He declared, and our eyes met once again. "Strife does not know what Tseng and I decided concerning Zack. He does not know Jenova possessed him and he is very capable of doing some non-sense thinking he's honoring his dead friend."
His tone was not unpleasant, but I realized he was actually right. Very right indeed. I had been reckless and from now on, I had to be more careful when the Zack matter came up. Namely with Cloud.
So I nodded, and made a face, my eyes trying to focus somewhere else on the details of the Junon canon, the birds, the sky, whatever.
"Please, don't do this again. Or we'll risk everything. Again."
I heard him, his tone excessively comprehensive. I wasn't used to such calmness in him, he was always so harsh.
"Okay." I declared, my hands on the pockets of my wool coat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"You never do, but yet, it keeps happening."
Okay, I get it! I closed my eyes for brief seconds, regret all over me.
"Why did you come here?"
His questioning seemed genuine.
"I wanted to see the LV 49, so I asked Reno to arrange it for me."
He blinked at me, and it actually felt funny - to see Sephiroth so in the dark about something.
"Why?" He asked, and I couldn't help but to smile at him.
"Come on, General, it's the training room." I took a step back and turned with my back to him, thankful for the sudden subject change. "Virtual settings, flying and stuff, are you kidding me?" I half-turned slowly to end up my reasoning. "How come you're the only one having fun?"
I heard him snort, as I sensed him closer, and decided to go on.
"You're not going to tell me it's dangerous are you?"
"No."
His negation was strangely smiley. He was actually amused with our conversation, which was a plus. I didn't enjoy his somber and grumpy side, this one was so much better. At all levels.
"I know you, Genesis and Angeal used to sneak in here sometimes." I informed, and turned completely to face him.
He eyed me, measured me, accessing me with his alien eyes, and in that moment I wished I could read his mind. His stance, albeit serious, was now a little relaxed, which showed on his face. The marine breeze greeted us once again, and I took the chance to impersonate what I had lived, hundreds of times, in that screen at home, playing that game I was so fond of.
"Infinite in mystery, is the gift of the Goddess; we seek it thus, and take it to the sky, ripples form in the water's circles, the wandering soul knows no rest."
I paused, recalling how the actual scene progressed. The man in front of me let me speak, not saying a word. Just watching.
"And then you'd say -Loveless, act 1." I smiled a little, before continuing. "Genesis snorted, claiming you'd remembered and then you retorted - how can I not, when you'd beat it into my head."
I saw Sephiroth lock his jaw, an automatic reaction to my words. He remembered it - as vividly as I did.
"Don't take Sephiroth likely, Angeal said." I quoted.
"Is that the best you can do?" He said, and I recalled the moment he had said that sentence exactly. So, I decided I would answer him accordingly.
"All hail Sephiroth, uh?"
There was a sample of smile on his face and I took the hint to go on. This was fun. And a total tease.
"Angeal, stay back. I'll take Sephiroth alone. The world needs a new hero." I quoted Genesis, actually very amused, and took some steps back again, mimicking the way Genesis waved his arms in that exact moment.
Sephiroth approached me again, towering me with his usual omnipotence. He narrowed his eyes at me and tilted his head to the side.
"Come and try." He whispered, and I sensed that, besides the quoting, his tone held something else there, some hidden content I couldn't dare to guess up. In fact, it actually scared me he was playing teasing games with me just because. For fun, for whatever's sake.
No; that possibility, actually, freaked me out.
I didn't want that to happen to me, I had to protect myself - so, the reaction was inevitable. And what would be better than the original quote?
Hit it, Elie.
"So smug. But for how long?"
His face lightened a little and he smiled discreetly. I felt my pulse on my ears, a little expectant. His reaction wasn't very usual and I knew he could be very sarcastic when he wanted to. For a moment, I expected everything from him. There were moments when Sephiroth was a total stranger to me - if he wanted to.
"Your precision freaks me out, Eleanor." He was very serious, his eyes honest on mine. So transparent - for the first time.
And I couldn't help but to… feel amazed at his declaration.
"I thought there was nothing capable of freaking you out." I said, speaking my mind.
"Well now you know there is."
Right.
"Yeah."
All this strange amount of honestly with so much eye power made me feel a little uncomfortable. My heartbeat ran fast and I wanted so bad to be calm and relax, but there were too many factors distracting me right now. The setting, the smells, the heat of the fading rays of sun… and him. Namely him.
His presence. So overwhelming and-
"Here."
There were hands around my waist and I felt flabbergasted.
"Wait, what-?"
"Hold on."
I couldn't say a word. With an ease that outran me, he turned me to face him and adjusted us. Then, he just jumped up.
And the feeling was incredible. Just like I had seen him do, he was able to project himself in the air, as if he was lighter and able of staying up there for a while. It was the closest thing to 'flying' I had ever experienced.
"Oh my God." I whispered, seeing the sea from such high point. My hands grasped his leather forearms and our stares met unexpectedly. And, in that moment, I was very blunt with him.
"You're going to give me a heart attack!"
He smiled, and I sensed the situation amused him. He was actually enjoying all this manly demonstration of power… and superiority. In here, he could do whatever he wanted, play with gravity, cut invisible enemies, explore the planet as in reality.
We landed slowly at the tip of the canon, and he alerted me to focus on the landscape with a silent nod. He was so right. Breathtaking.
"It's beautiful." I admitted, and as he shifted me, now with my back to him, I heard his voice next to one of my ears. He man-held me with a practice of a man who knew very well what he was doing. Good grief.
"We're going up."
I didn't have time to react. Again.
"Yikes."
The jump had a stronger impulse this time and he was heading to the sky. The velocity was acceptable, until we reached a cold point above. The icy wind threatened to freeze my muscles, but the view I had from where we stood was simply mesmerizing.
"Amazing."
My words seemed to have impact on him.
"A perfect replica of the Planet. From the highest point in the sky… to the deepest spot in the ocean."
"It is."
The trip consisted of minutes, maybe, all I knew was the sensation overwhelmed me completely. There was no simulator on Earth that would match this! Not in a thousand years.
We perforated clouds, had a glimpse of the sun diving in the sea, explored the area, until we finally returned to the top of the Junon canon.
Still in one piece, thankfully.
Sephiroth let me go and I turned to him, with a silly smile in my face. I felt so happy it must be shamelessly obvious.
"Man. That was very Lois Lane."
He blinked at me, probably confused.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing." I laughed, feeling stupid. Gosh, being close to him did this to me! "Thanks for the ride, it was amazing."
He nodded, a sample of smile on his lips. For moments I wondered what would take to grasp a full, blown smile from him. What would make him smile like an idiot… the way I was smiling right freaking now?
I had no idea.
"There's a meeting tomorrow, 11 am, science division, floor 5, east wing."
And that took me away of the virtual setting we were in, for a moment. I saw him walk away, headed to a wall, where he touched something, making the Junon canon disappear.
Now that I stood on solid ground, I could focus enough to ask him something.
"What's the occasion?"
"Classified."
His answer didn't allow much more dialogue. He walked away the LV 49 and I followed, finding Reno outside.
Apparently, waiting for me.
I looked over Sephiroth, who made his way, leaving me kind of off in this place. He said no word, no goodbye, no nothing.
Sometimes I didn't get him.
I heard the automatic door leading to LV49 closing, making a strong noise behind me.
My eyes found Reno, who smiled at me with that typical facial expression of him. Joker.
"So I suppose you had fun!"
I merely blinked at him, not able of answering him.
"Come, I'll take you home."
"Thanks."
We walked in silence and I couldn't think straight. What had happened inside that training room? Was it… what was it, damn it?
Did it have a name? Fit in a category?
The borders were becoming foggy… and I didn't know what to do about it.
"What happened in there?"
"Nothing."
Right, better not say a word about flying around with him.
"Like Hell. You hair is-"
"Reno!"
I closed my eyes in despair, not wanting to talk about it. God, this was so… frustrating.
"I'll shut up."
Reno's tone was joyful, and I knew it was a matter of time until he would find out what had happened in the LV 49.
After all, Reno had a reputation to keep.
Sephiroth's POV.
I had caught Cloud with Stevens at the LV 49 out of sheer luck.
Reno was in an official meeting when Stevens called, a meeting where I was as well. All the excusing himself to take care of the something alerted me - and I simply asked him what was going on with Stevens calling him in the middle of the afternoon.
He didn't hide a thing, admitting he had sent Cloud to do some sight-seeing. Which would be normal and had nothing to worry over, if Cloud wasn't who he was: an eager soon-to-be-1st Class, with his idol recently passed away in mission. Zack Fair.
The information was supposed to be secretive and gaps were not allowed - of any kind, and I knew it frustrated Cloud to a point. He knew the basics about the circumstances of Zack's death, but he wondered. It was only normal. He had the will of a SOLDIER, and I knew it.
And I also knew he would try to retrieve information from Stevens.
It was obvious and even logical that it would happen… but I couldn't let him even try. I knew Stevens enough to know that, with the right amount of pressure, she would give in to Cloud's insistence.
After all, she knew him better than any of us, knew what moved him, how he worked.
And that innocent sympathy would lead her to do unwise things.
Thankfully I got there in time. The virtual reality was set up, Cloud and Stevens talking in the middle of the Junon canon.
I didn't like it in the least. Didn't like this in any possible way.
Having to chase Stevens around, always checking if everything was okay, always alert if someone decided to have her off the map… Reno did a good job, always near her practically 24/7 and all but it became consuming, and was starting to interfere in my real job.
I was a General, I had my own business to mind. I was starting to think that maybe giving Stevens a chance in this world hadn't been an intelligent choice after all. Maybe it would be safer and less worrying if she remained inside a lab, just like John had suggested.
But then again, the whole situation had its counterparts. She was one hell of an informant. In her own way, she had her professionalism, a unique resuming capacity, even in the reports she made for us.
She always minded about everyone's safety, and had been honest with me since the beginning, despite our differences. I could never thank her enough for saving me from becoming a nightmare - something I didn't know the impact it would have in society, but taking in Steven's face when she described to me was plenty enough to grasp how it would be. Of course, thanking her that openly was absolutely out of question. She was very emotional about me - maybe too much. There was something when the conversation between us got softer. Something I didn't know how to name, as in so many things concerning Stevens, even the things she made me feel.
All of it was awkward and odd. The way my body functioned when she was around changed, just like the tone in someone's voice.
It all felt too foreign to me - what worried me. I couldn't afford this strange things affected my professional life.
I had responsibilities and secretly, I felt her presence changed me. Which I didn't enjoy particularly.
The recreation of the fight Angeal, Genesis and I had had impressed me. It was a fact it did, the way she knew all the lines, everything we had said to each other… it all was too much for me to ignore.
So, knowing Stevens had a childish curiosity over the LV49 properties, I decided to give her a field trip. A complete one.
Her reaction had been far from gratifying to watch. She looked genuinely happy and content, so at ease… close to me. Feeling a woman's touch gripping my arms was totally unknown to me. In fact, it was something foreign and not very common. Women feared me, feared my touch - as if I was that lethal. But not Stevens. For her, everything was normal, she accepted everything coming from me. Even closeness.
And that freaked me as much as her informational capacities.
Usually I had to be the one refraining the contact - she seemed so obscenely at ease that my abruptness confused her every time.
But, it was necessary. Someone had to think in the middle of all this.
I blinked, realizing I had been dozing off for the last minutes. Thankfully no one noticed, and Tseng talked with John as if I wasn't there, about something concerning beach and warm water in Costa del Sol.
I looked around the office, one chair still vacant. My eyes met the clock by the wall. 11.01 a.m.
Stevens was late.
"Hi."
And, speaking of which. We all turned, reflexively, and her eyes met mine in first place, brief but intense. There she was again.
This has to stop.
"Get in." John said, with an obvious grin on his face. "Good morning."
Tseng greeted Stevens as well and I saw her take the vacant spot. Right in front me.
Just great.
"So, to what we owe this… reunion?" Stevens' tone was smiley and enthusiastic, and I decided to cut the chase.
"Information." I declared with a dry tone. "About the next year."
"Oh. Okay. Just let me… think."
In the seconds that followed I noticed all the smiles had vanished, replaced by frowns of seriousness instead. Good to know I had that power.
"Year 0003. Very well," She started, with a nod. "So I assume the Turks had been researching and already know that one of AVALANCHE's HQ is located in Wutai."
"Indeed." Tseng agreed.
"By then, Rufus would inform AVALANCHE of your plans, but since he's in custody that's not going to happen." She concluded. "Well, the invasion on the HQ will get along pretty okay, with minor intercurrences."
"What do you mean?" Tseng asked.
"A Wutaian woman will stick her nose… but she's not a threat."
There was a pause again and Stevens seemed to gather herself again.
"Then would come the attempt on the President's life. Again, considering Rufus is under custody and that you already know what he intended to do, my advice would be… supervise him."
I decided to say something on the matter.
"He'll try no matter what, but we will have to consider he'll eventually find another way to have his father killed, even if he's under arrest."
"It is a possibility." Stevens agreed with me, and continued. "AVALANCHE will try to sabotage the Launch by stealing the oxygen's tank. This will happen around April, give or take. In the meantime AVALANCHE will also try and occupy the Mako Reactor in Corel and destroy it."
Stevens gulped before continuing.
"That mission will happen in May, the 8th, to be precise. It would be there when Rufus would be caught, what obviously won't happen because he's already in custody."
Tseng snorted and spoke.
"Well that can change." He declared. "We might let him leave to see if things walk that course and then catch him with proofs on our hands."
Tseng's eyes met mine and I got his strategy. But I wondered, if Rufus would be that naïve, now that he knew we were aware of his intentions.
"It is a possibility to discuss further ahead." I suggested, my tone neutral. All this had to be done with tact or our supposed advantage wouldn't work to favor us.
On the contrary.
Stevens made a soft sound, signal that she wanted to speak again.
"Very well. In the meantime, there is something you must know about but deal with it discreetly."
And that had our full, blown attention.
"One of AVALANCHE's members, Elfé, is actually Veld's daughter, the one he assumed dead."
The silence was actually shocking and we merely blinked at the revelation. Tseng seemed taken aback and Stevens' voice was heard once again.
"So that would be a shock and actually will lead to his… degradation. In a manner of speaking."
There was a moment of reflection, where I supposed everyone drew conclusions. Yet, my mind roamed about something she had mentioned minutes ago.
"So what will happen to the Corel reactor?"
"It will be destroyed. The President will not be happy with it, at all, and he will order Scarlet to go there with Shinra troops to burn down the mining village, what sadly happens, with minor casualties thankfully."
Our stare locked and I sensed uneasiness in Stevens' eyes. She avoided my gaze and changed subject.
"After that, Rufus would be caught and would remain in custody permanently, and…" She paused, searching Tseng's attention. "You, Tseng, will be appointed as the new and official leader of the Turks."
Tseng looked surprised.
"What about Veld?"
Stevens took a deep breath before speaking. So. Bad news were coming.
"The President will command you to kill him."
Another uncomfortable silence passed by and, before someone would start getting emotional, I jumped in.
"All right. Anything else?"
Stevens shook her head, her eyes on the ground. The last revelation has left its marks in everybody in this office - except from me. I got up the chair, the movement seeming to have some impact. Tseng got up as well, and John started arranging papers on his desk, grim as ever.
"Let's have all this written shall we? Then we'll reunite to discuss strategy." I declared, and no one said a word against. "Stevens?"
Her eyes met mine and I raised my eyebrows, giving her a hint to rush things up. This was next's years happenings we were talking about.
"Yep, I'll make the report." She declared, still sitting."Oh and if you want, I can inform you about the 0004 year as well."
I blinked a couple of times, not getting if she was joking or plain honest. Sometimes she had the most refined irony I had ever heard and seen. It almost matched mine. Almost.
"Okay, go ahead."
She smiled softly and spoke - directly at me.
"Simple. The Gongaka Reactor will explode. And that's it."
Silence followed once again and I felt the weight of 3 pairs of eyes on me. What, was she playing around or what?
"Just that? For the whole year?"
She nodded, and I simply concluded she was being true. Why wouldn't she?
"Fair enough." I declared, and my stare met John, then Tseng. "It seems we have work to do, people. We'll gather next week if you agree for further discussion."
Everybody stated affirmatively all over the office, Tseng saying his goodbyes and excusing himself. John got up and walked us to the door, as he and Stevens talked about something about the Lab and the new personnel.
In any normal circumstance, I would leave in a no time, but this was not the case.
I still had a question to pose her.
So I patiently waited for their goodbyes to end and finally question Stevens by the hall, where John couldn't see us anymore.
I heard her footsteps, hasty and short, approaching me. And the face she made when she saw me was priceless. In a matter of speaking. I didn't enjoy scaring people the shit out of themselves, but she actually was caught by surprise.
"You scared me."
"I know."
She made a shocked face and remained in silence, waiting for me to say something.
"There's a part of the story you're not telling me."
And that seemed to grasp her attention.
"What's that?"
"The remaining 3 months of the current year."
I saw her process my words, and… recall.
"Is there anything in particular you want to know?"
Yes, there is.
"Nibelheim."
Stevens took a deep breath before speaking.
"The Shinra mansion is supposed to be rebuilt. And they'll continue experimenting there."
"You mean Hojo?"
"Yes. But that's something… complex." She declared, with that it's-not-that-simple tone. "I think it may involve a visit there for you to grasp exactly what Shinra did and still does in there."
I did the math quickly.
"So that's not a priority."
"No."
"Very well."
"Can I leave?"
Our stare changed nature out of the sudden. Her request to leave held something behind those words, something I didn't know what to make out of it.
It was intense and fearful, in a way.
So I simply nodded, allowing her to go away. From me.
And as she walked along the hall, I just stood there, processing the effect of her presence in my state of mind.
She was something. Really something.
She told me - us,- everything, put her heart out in those reports and I… was hiding something very important from her. Zack's memorial ceremony was upon us, soon.
I gulped dry as I thought about the consequences. John was right, she was going to hate me for that.
But I wouldn't quiver. I couldn't.
It's for her own safety., my mind declared.
With a sudden move, I walked away, going for Masamune. LV 49 would have to bear with me once again.