Chapter 47. Insistence.
Sephiroth's POV
I woke up rather energized.
The moment I opened my eyes I knew I wasn't home. The tones, the walls and mainly the smell were different - in a way that I immediately recalled where I was.
Hojo's lab.
I sat on the bed - or, a sample of bed. It was only a mattress in a gurney, and the dull pain in my left arm reminded me of the moment my body had been projected towards the wall when the explosion occurred. I stared at my own arm, realizing it looked pretty much the same. So, I was healing.
There were tubes inside my veins - in both arms, and I stared at the vials positioned upside down, the transparent liquid flowing, dropping silently. I narrowed my eyes at it, wondering what it might be.
"That's my mix, made only for you, General."Hojo's voice made me turn my head at him. "I, more than anybody, know what your body needs the most. And, of course, hydration."
I blinked at him, removing the catheter from my left arm, compressing the wound with gauze.
"I can hydrate myself the usual way, thank you." I said with a flat tone, as my left hand grabbed another gauze and I removed the catheter stuck in my right arm.
"How long was I out?" I asked, my eyes on the wound, as I compressed it for moments.
Hojo stood in the middle of the lab's room, with his usual frown of disappointment.
"Two days."
My eyes met his at once, and I felt a little worried.
"The world didn't end just because you're absent, boy." He smiled, knowing that being present was exactly my main worry. He enjoyed this. This bastard enjoyed hurting me. "There is no martial law outside, the Turks and SOLDIER are making a great job protecting the city with the usual orders, despite knowing their leaders are healing."
I blinked at him, not knowing what to say against.
"I thought you'd like to know Tseng is recovering, Veld is taking command of the operations for now. He asked me to tell you he's waiting for you as soon as you feel capable of seeing him. There's matters of the company to take care of I'm afraid."
"There are." I said, my eyes searching for my clothes.
"They're over there, boy, neat and cleaned." Hojo pointed, and I saw my outfit hanging on the wall, looking as good as new.
I didn't say a word as I got dressed, Hojo still standing, as if waiting for me to say something.
He was the one speaking instead.
"I heard your protégé left."
His words sounded disturbing in the silence that reigned in the lab room.
"Her decision." I eventually declared, as I put the coat on. Just the pauldrons left. And the sword.
"Come on, boy," Hojo laughed, and the sound actually brought shivers to my spine. "We both know that's not entirely true."
I turned to him, annoyed.
"This conversation is over."
"So touchy over the matter." Hojo joked. "What happened in Nibelheim, did you fuck her properly, nicely, the way you've been longing to do for so long?"
His words were so nasty it actually disgusted me.
"Or did you treat her like the others?" He smiled with cruelty. "Did you show her your true nature, boy?"
I turned completely, and actually eyed the man that stood in front of me. It was time to shove into that sicko face of him the truth.
"You must be confusing me with yourself old man." I said, calm as ever. "I was not the one who got his co-worker impregnated and then convinced her to experiment in their child."
It actually felt nice, very good indeed, to see how his facial expression changing from sarcastic to shocked. Hojo, for the first time in years, ran out of words, and I used that in my favor.
"And then, to take the child from her and resume her to abandonment, while raising the experiment in a cold, unfriendly lab. That says a lot about someone's true nature, don't you think?" I declared, sheathing my sword with a definite move. As expected, Hojo didn't reply at once and I made my way towards the exit.
"Did she tell you that?" Hojo asked, and I opened the door.
"Who?"
"Stevens."
I took a deep breath.
"It doesn't matter who told me." I said and half-turned, only to see Hojo's form remained the same, with his back to me. "See you around, old man."
And with firm steps I left that lab, headed towards Veld's office.
-/-
When I got there, Veld wasn't alone. There was Rude, Reno and Cloud, my 1st Class. Veld sat in the main desk and a series of chairs were there, only two empty.
I wondered who might be the other element missing.
"Good afternoon General." Veld said, and I nodded. "Please sit if you'd like, we're only waiting for Professor John Medina to join us."
So now that all my answers were answered, there was little to do but to sit. And wait.
"How's Tseng?" I asked Reno, and he turned to me with something that I identified as anger.
"Holding on anyway he can."
I nodded and decided to give it a breather. Reno held some sort of grudge on me because of Stevens and I had no patience for that shit.
Thankfully, Medina arrived and sat, greeting us with a rushed 'good evening', the meeting starting at once.
"Thanks all of you for joining." Veld started. "I imagine you'll be wondering on the nature of this meeting, but as you all know, the President died three days ago, victim of an open attempt. No one claimed the attempt yet but we have our suspicions on AVALANCHE."
There was a pause before Veld spoke again.
"The Board did not take hold of the President's chair, handing to me the responsibility of finding a substitute for the time being." Veld's speech came to an halt and I sensed his eyes meeting mine. "General… I'd like you to replace the President indefinitely, or until another option comes."
A thick silence followed and now, all eyes were on me.
"Not indefinitely," I said, considering it was better to put things that way. "I can try and do my best in the President's position but I am a man of war, not made for this kind of leadership."
Veld smiled, he seemed satisfied with my answer.
"So, you do agree to this?"
I took my time considering my answer. I narrowed my eyes at the possibilities, namely… in what I could actually do with a position like that one. I would be in charge of everything, would have the last word about whatever matter. I inhaled and decided I should give it a go.
"In a temporary basis, yes."
The silence in that room was crushing. I didn't know what the others were actually thinking but I had my mind made up. So I'd rather start right now.
"Will that be all?" I asked, as I got up the chair. Veld seemed a little surprised with my attitude, his eyebrows rising as I stood.
"Uh… no, there's some other matters concerning temporary assignment-"
"That's a task for the President." I interrupted, going straight to business.
Veld was rendered speechless and I walked towards the man, speaking my mind.
"So, considering I am in charge now, here's the news…" I paused and turned, facing each one of them as I spoke. "Tseng will become the Turks's permanent leader, Cloud Strife will be assigned to substitute me while I'm here, Reno and Rude will take over Security and Professor John Medina will be moved to different building with his team and lab, and will work conjoining with Physics outside the HQ area."
All of them were mouth agape.
"What about me?" Veld asked, and I turned to him, considering the options he actually had.
"You're on leave. Permanently."
Veld stood up, visibly unpleased with my suggestion.
"How dare you?"
I decided to be very blunt.
"As you well know, your daughter Elfé is alive, and is a crucial element of AVALANCHE. I know you've been searching out for her, which makes you a target, Veld."
She seemed like a rabbit trapped in a hole before he spoke.
"A target for what?"
"Your connection to Shinra is valuable for her and hence, AVALANCHE, to take advantage." No one whispered a word as I talked, so I continued.
"I will not allow for this company to suffer more inside attempts. Enough is enough. So I'll remain in charge until Rufus decides to come up. He will show up to claim lordship over Shinra and when he does, I won't be able to stop him. No one will, we all know the company is his by birthright."
"He's got a point." Medina said, with a firm tone, and my eyes met his at once. In there I found the confirmation I needed, as Medina nodded at me. My suspicions were actually right.
"Meet me all in two days for the new job assignments become official. You too, Veld."
And with that I left the room, very pleased with my performance.
It was time to rule.
Medina's POV.
I actually never thought the General would do something like this. I mean, take Veld out of the map and promote each and one of us into the jobs everyone dreamed about? It was insane, namely because it had been the General's idea to do so.
So in a couple of days after Veld being dismissed, I was summoned to Sephiroth's office. He took his new task very seriously but he mainly remained himself. He was the arrogant bastard we were so used to by now and there seemed to be no limit for his constant authoritarian leadership.
Even Cloud Strife was under his charge, albeit temporarily working as 'The General'. Of course no one called him General. General would be only one - Sephiroth, and that was pretty much it.
I walked inside the huge office and my eyes met green Mako ones, urging me to sit right there in front of his desk. He searched for something in a pile of paper and with a sudden gesture, he handed me a file.
My file, with a new job proposition for me to sign. I took a deep breath and after reading the whole thing, I had to ask.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Why on the Planet would you put me in charge of the PORTAL management."
Sephiroth took his time answering me but it turned out to be very gratifying.
"I wouldn't trust anybody on that. Only you."
My eyebrows rose as I processed his words, realizing there wasn't really that much to say after that. He only trusted me over the PORTAL thing, period. That was nice, actually, because I only trusted him with the authority and security thing so I guess we were both even on that.
Which reminded me of something.
"Listen, speaking of which..." I paused, my fingers massaging my forehead. "The last time you crossed the PORTAL you sealed the door, right?"
"I did." He said, as he nodded.
"How?"
"The old-fashion way."
"So, no materia could have unsealed it."
"No."
Oh, boy.
"So definitely someone took some walks in and out." I concluded, feeling a little worried with my conclusion. "Someone with the means to unseal the door you left sealed, otherwise Stevens couldn't have done it herself."
There was a pause, as if each one of us was doing the math.
"That's not good news."
"Last time, when Stevens left I went there and I saw it with my own eyes."
Sephiroth eyed me seriously and made a face.
"Do you want to check it out?"
"I'd like to."
He nodded at me.
"Go ahead. Let me know if you need any authorizations, but in what concerns me you can dig deep and find out who is trespassing."
"Thanks."
I got up to leave, but the General interrupted me.
"Let me know on how you progress. I'd like very much to punish whoever is doing that."
I nodded at him and left. And, with a smile on my face, I walked towards the elevators.
Time to move the lab out of the Science Division.
Elie's POV.
I didn't know how many days had passed. A week, a month, a year? It all went by so slowly to me. But, when I got to check it, it had been only five long days.
The morning was cold, and I took my time in the shower, warm and calming. It would give me the strength I needed to face another day.
The men working at my home would arrive soon, and every day I was bathed with a sample of joy when I got home and found my kitchen and hall taking a different, permanent shape. The area where Zack had been had been transformed into part of the kitchen, and now an island was planted in the middle of it. It was simply fenomenal, practically finished and I smiled as I considered the possibilities that would follow.
Colors. I would have to decide on which color I would use to paint the kitchen's walls. One of the men had offered to do all the painting for me, considering I worked a least two shifts a day and didn't have much time. They all knew Larry so they knew I worked my ass off.
I got dressed quickly and left the apartment.
I would have my breakfast at the bar, since it was now half past seven and my shift only started at 8 a.m. Frances had done the night shift and I would take the time to talk with her a little before she was due.
The morning breeze in N.Y. city was relentless, as to be expected. Winter was ruthless in this place and I knew how to defend myself from that. Gloves and ear-covers were mandatory, as well as thick, warm coats.
My ten minute walk passed by in a blur and I entered the bar, greeting Larry as usual. He arrived earlier than everybody else.
"Good morning!" I said, smiling.
"Hey!" He greeted, smiling back at me. "Judging by your face, it must be cold outside."
"Freezing." I corrected. "I'm going to change, eat something for strength and then start on, okay?"
"You do that, Elie."
I went straight to backstage, as we called it, changed into my work clothes and found Frances there, with a sleepy face.
"How was the night shift?"
"Calm, thankfully." He said, with a yawn. Around 5 am a band of seagulls invaded the Bar for breakfast and home-made bread, you know."
"The usual, I see." I smiled at her, as I gathered my hair up in my head.
"Uh, I am exhausted, gotta get some quality sleep before joining again at midnight."
I stared at her for a while.
"Why are you doing night shifts only?"
"It's rotative. Since you left Larry had a bad time replacing you, but thankfully things will change now that you're back."
"Sorry about that."
Frances snorted.
"I'm going, join me at breakfast."
"I'll be right there."
-/-
I was definitely out of practice of working 16 hours in a row at the bar.
There had been two years of soft work, now that I got to think about it. The year I had been in John's lab, then the cry of independence that got me working as an assistant. I snorted at the logics of my thinking, and I took some time to simply sit for some seconds. My legs hurt, my feet burned even if I wore tennis.
The clock was merciless, time passing by slowly, costumers being demanding and picky. Larry had been around most of the time, but even he had to rest for a while. So I got to stay alone with one of the girls for the whole afternoon.
Around ten p.m. Larry called, letting me know he would be getting there, which was a relief. The costumers changed nature when the night called in and I still had my trauma from the last time I'd been here.
The booths were crowded with people and I stared attentively at the girl who was waitressing that row of tables, signaling her if everything was okay.
She nodded at me, but I could see she was actually spent. Working in heels hadn't been such a good idea.
"Next time, opt with tennis, Adry." I said, as she put the tray on the counter. She smiled at me, a very innocent smile.
"Yeah."
"Everything's okay?" I asked, as I emptied the tray and replaced it with the next order. "Is there someone bothering you?"
She blushed and that was confirmation enough those guys from booth 4 had been naughty.
"Stay cool and don't pay them importance. Larry will be here and we'll let him know."
She nodded at me and took the order, calmly walking over her booths.
I took a deep breath and started putting the dishes in the washing machine, cleaning the counter for the thousandth time and I crouched to reach for a soda. I could use a little of bubbling in my night.
But when I got up again, something truly unexpected almost makes me drop the damn soda on the floor.
"Do you remember me, Elie?"
I took my time processing who addressed me with such ease. The most distinctive mark on that man was… the eyes. Shiny, dark blue, so out of the ordinary, lost in that overconfident smug face I recalled from… that night.
I couldn't say a word, as I blinked in silence and my body shivered out of fear. He had been the one chasing me towards the Industrial Area that night. He and two of his friends.
"I do." I eventually said, frozen behind the counter. Geez this guy gave me the creeps.
Thankfully, by the corner of my eye I saw a large bulge of man coming to view. That was my savior.
"Larry?" I called out for him, and the blue-eyed guy turned to simply greet him.
I widened my eyes at them. What on Earth?
"It's okay, Elie."Larry smiled, with a pat on his back. The blue-eyed man smiled, a flashy white smile that actually was beautiful in the creepiest way. "That's Patrick, he's our usual costumer."
I bit my lip, feeling a little stupid actually.
"I know that." I said, throwing a gulp of soda. I sure needed that to calm the heck down.
Larry shook his head at me and kept laughing.
"So, why are you looking like that?"
I decided to be very blunt about it.
"He scared me."
Larry looked at him and made a face, the blue-eyed suddenly serious.
"Don't jump on my girls like that, Patrick, they're the spooky type."
Oh my God, he joked about it!
"Hey, my bad."
Larry didn't pay me attention and went off the back, leaving me alone with him, who took a seat right next to the counter. Just what I needed. I decided that maybe it would be better to just remain in silence and to simply igno-
"Elie, Elie…"He said my name with interest. "Where have you been?"
I minded myself with stuff behind the counter, paying the man no attention at all.
"None of your business."
He reacted to my bitterness.
"Come on, girl, don't be resentful."
His comment actually made me turn my attention to him. His eyes flashed with something I couldn't quite place and I gulp dry at his stupid comment.
"Resentful? What would you and your gorillas do if you got to me that night?" I said, with a low tone. Our stare was locked and I waited for him to answer me.
"Honestly? Just scare you off a little." He said, with a serious tone. "I didn't like to be told against."
My eyebrows went up, and I couldn't believe a word he had said. Except for the last part, which was actually very true. He had been an asshole that night he had simply offered me money to go out with him.
"You deserved to be told against, you were an ass."
"I admit it, I was." He said, and his eyes were on mine the whole time. "But I'd like to know how you escaped that place."
I sighed and turned to prepare the next order, Adry right next to the blue-eyed man with the tray ready to be filled.
"Magic trick. Cazaam." I said, and I heard him snort.
"That does not convince me."
Adry left with the tray full, and my eyes were on her until she reached the furthest booth. She had made it without falling, which had been impressive with those heels.
"As if I cared." I said, bored.
"You should, Elie."
His voice, his tone, had been everything but friendly and his stare was on me in a way I didn't particularly enjoy. I didn't know who this guy was but there was something about him that screamed 'trouble' and 'illegal', and I wanted nothing from him but distance.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
I said, and he gulped down the beer he had been drinking and left, blinking at me. I observed him, as he left the Bar. Tall and built, dark wavy hair, dressed elegantly with shirt and suit pants, no one would have guessed that idiot had played such joke on me two years ago. He had a tie who matched the blue of his eyes, and I wondered if he had done that in purpose.
He put his coat on as he left the Bar, crossing paths with Frances, who was coming to replace me for the next shift. She eyed him attentively, as if recognizing him and staring at me wide eyed, surprised. She approached me with a naughty smile.
"What did he tell you?"
She was basically with her boobs jumping on the counter.
"Bullshit. The usual crap." I said, noticing my soda had lost all the gasified properties. Shit.
She made a face at me and I knew something improper was leaving that dirty mouth of hers.
"He's cute. Those blue eyes are to die for. And taking in the rest, my guess is someone is about to get lucky."
She blinked at me and I couldn't feel more disgusted.
"He's a psycho, thanks but no, thanks. And he's all yours to play with."
Frances let out an ironic laugh.
"He does not want me, Elie." She said, and made a face. "You're the target, girl."
I blinked at her, feeling both scared and surprised. What the?
"But why, why would I be his target?"
Frances smiled at me.
"Don't you know the hardest a girl plays to get, the sweetest the conquest is?"
I locked my jaw in anger. I wasn't playing hard to get, I was simply not available. Period.
"That's stupid to assume, I don't like the guy and I'm not entering that silly game of his, I'm not someone he can get to."
Frances was serious out of the sudden.
"Elie, dear, just don't jump into conclusions." She declared. "He knows he's hot so he's overconfident but maybe you should give it a chance."
Shock overwhelmed me.
"I can't believe you're saying that."
"Just let it flow. That's all I'm saying." She said, getting up to get prepared to work. "If he misbehaves, let me know. I'd be glad to punch him in the sac."
Frances blinked at me and disappeared on the back of the Bar. I turned to check on the clock, it was 5 past midnight already. I shook my head as I waited for Frances. I couldn't believe my luck.
"That's all I needed…"
I whispered, closing my eyes for a second.
Cloud's POV.
Sephiroth didn't cut me any slack since I replaced him.
It was actually very difficult to play his part, namely when everybody considered me truly an inferior version of him, no matter how hard I tried.
Since the day the President died, my life turned upside down. I had little chance of preparing my travel to retrieve Zack and with John Medina constantly sneaking inside the PORTAL building, my window of opportunity thinned.
The security guard that had granted me full access for the last two times I had been there and back informed me there were suspicions of unauthorized activity and that an investigation was going to start to find out who was making illegal traveling.
He also told me I should not worry, that my name wouldn't come up in the list but the suggestion was there: I was to refrain, for now, any attempt of crossing the PORTAL.
I sighed at the odds, realizing the higher I got, the most frustrated I felt.
If I was the General, I was supposed to get what I wanted, I was supposed to do whatever I needed.
So, I would have to find a way - eventually.
Sephiroth's POV.
Weeks consumed me.
There was a lot of work waiting for resolution by the President's side. Most of it had been destroyed in the explosion, so I'd decided to it by sections. First, Shinra and all things related, and then I would spread the attention.
With things definitely solved in the main sections of the company, my worried were scarce, and I followed specially Strife's footsteps. After all, the man was replacing me and I had to be sure he wouldn't soften the men up. Now, more than ever, I needed the company's finest to be on their best. Turks as well.
AVALANCHE might strike anytime and all our alarms were on. With Veld on permanent leave, I was sure he would look out for his daughter. As to Rufus… he would claim his throne, it was just a matter of time, and it was no secret.
I would resume doing what I knew best for the time I would be here and that was it. A knock on the door woke me up from my reverie.
"Yes?" I said, and turned to see Medina's face coming to view.
He had that look on his face.
"What is it?" I asked, as I faced the window once again. The landscape outside couldn't appeal me less than it did.
"I'm taking some days off." He said, and I narrowed my eyes, deciding I should turn to hear and see this properly.
"Vacations?" I asked, as I walked and finally paused as I reached the desk. Medina's eyes were serious but there was something on him that perspired guilt.
"Not really." He admitted, and his fingers massaged his forehead. So, the good Doctor was nervous! "I'm visiting Elie."
An uncomfortable silence landed on the office and I didn't say a word. Stevens was a soft spot in my anatomy and I didn't want to talk about it. Our last encounter had been a catastrophe and I didn't want to recall it. Any of it.
Not for now, anyways.
"I couldn't care less about where you're going and with whom you're consorting." I said, and I wished my tone had been more neutral and less bitter. "I just need to know you're off to make the necessary adjustments."
John's face was a mirror of shock, but I pretend I didn't see it. I didn't want to talk about Stevens and I knew that if an argument would start, both of us would say very nasty things. And enough was enough.
"Well, I've recovered the PORTAL's travelling records for the last year," Medina said, handing me a file. "There's nothing there."
I blinked at him.
"Nothing?"
John made a face.
"Someone has the right connections." He declared. "If crossing is actually being made, then this absence of proof is proof enough something illegal is going on. Whoever is crossing the PORTAL doesn't want to be figured out."
I nodded and raised my eyebrows. So, this was serious enough for me to occupy my mind for a while.
"I'll see into it." I said, putting the file next to me. "Enjoy your vacations."
Medina eyed me for a moment and I had the feeling he was about to say something, but then again he didn't.
"See you in three days or so."
I nodded at him, not bothering to say goodbye or whatever. My eyes were on the file and I sat, as Medina left the office. And, with a heavy feeling in my heart, I forced myself to focus on what John had told me, on the file and the information he'd given me.
It was time to figure this out.
Elie's POV
"Yes?"
They were the same to me. Voices, that asked me about something to drink, something to eat. They were all incognito faces with similar intentions.
"A martini, please."
The request had been made, and I was happy to comply. After all, that was my job here. To serve.
"There you go." I said, as I put the glass with than transparent liquid in front of that man. My head was totally off and I worked robotically.
"It suits you." I blinked and gulped dry, my eyes recognizing that face. It took me a moment to actually recognize that face as familiar, and for a moment I narrowed my eyes at the sameness. 'It suits you.' - Sephiroth had once told me, about my clothing, in our second date, the night we kissed. 'Black and white', he had said, with that consuming Mako stare- "Your hair, up."
I shook my head and faced those cold blue eyes that smiled at me from the other side of the counter.
"Thanks." I whispered, and turned, my back to the man that seemed to bring up some strange memories. Gosh it hurt like hell to recall how tender and amazing my first kiss with Sephiroth had been, namely when I was being scrutinized by another strange guy in this exact moment.
I decided not to say a word and kept on, preparing orders that Frances brought in and took away, her hazel eyes saying things totally unwise to me.
"Look, ELie, I-"
"I don't want to hear it."
Good God, what was with all this insistence!? I didn't want to hear what the man had to say. It didn't matter to me in the least!
"Oh I think you do."
There was something about his tone that I didn't like, but I paid no attention. I took a deep breath as I grabbed some Ice teas, my routine repetitive behind the counter.
"You're wrong, mister."
"No I'm not." He smiled, and I had to look at him with a 'yeah,right' stare. "Your daily escapades to a certain graveyard incite my curiosity."
The mention to my daily Zack visiting made the little hairs of my neck rise. What the hell?
"Curiosity killed the cat." I eventually said, pretending I didn't care.
But I did. And I worried over having someone watching me. Patrick snorted and shook his head at me, with another gulp of his Martini.
"Always so hostile." He declared. "Who was that, a close friend?"
Now it was my time to snort.
"None of your business."
"You can't keep everything a secret, Elie." He said, with a faux smile. "There comes a time when… everything comes up."
I turned suddenly, my poker face meeting his smug one.
"I wish it did, actually, so when you decided to spook me in such an orthodox way, you'd pay conveniently."
I had whispered my words at him and had been aggressive as hell. My stance was defensive and I saw him lock his jaw in reaction. His blue eyes seemed to burn on mine, but I didn't quaver.
"Who told you I haven't paid it conveniently?"
His statement had left me speechless and I couldn't react timely to that. I saw him get up and leave his payment on the counter, with an obvious face of displease.
"You assume too much."
And with that I saw him leave, walking with that elegant gait, overcoat and all, just like always.
I resumed to silence and wondered… what he might mean with that.
-/-
When I was due, it was dark already.
I was a little scared that, in any alley or corner I would find Patrick or someone of his acquaintances, but I walked safely in the blistering cold and snow until I reached the building where I lived.
The place was warm and I couldn't wait to reach my apartment. up the stairs I went, only the dump sound of my snow boots scoring the air. There was a constant, muffling noise, coming from each door, changing demeanor as I walked along. All the neighbors were in. Yay.
I walked absentmindedly, until I reached the corner that would lead me to my apartment and realized there was someone waiting for me there.
My first reaction was vegetative - my hearbeat peaked and I felt frightened; but then, my eyes met his. And in that moment I felt joy and relief invade my soul.
John.
"Oh my God, since when are you by my door?" I asked, rushing my steps to reach the man smiling back at me with a playful face and a duffel bag on his right hand.
"An hour or so."
I widened my stare at him.
"That's just not fair."I shook my head, and resumed unlocking the door. "Get inside, it's freezing in this city."
We walked inside my apartment and I took my time popping the lights to life. John's face lightened up and his critic stare scanned the area.
"It's different."
I laughed, as I turned to the fireplace. It was time to get the place cozy for the night.
"I remodeled."
John stared at the Kitchen and seemed to notice there was something different in that specific corner.
"Because of Zack?"
"Yeah."
My answer was immediate.
"It's very nice."
"Thanks."I said, approaching him and opening the refrigerator. "Are you hungry?"
"I suppose I can eat something."
"Here. These are leftovers but still are pretty tasty. I made it myself."
I urged John to sit, and he put the duffel bag next to the couch. As I prepared dinner, the fireplace came to life and there was some residual heat in the air, thankfully. We talked briefly about wall paint and wallpaper, until John decided to talk about something serious. I poured some red wine in his glass.
"So, here's the news: since the President died, Veld took over for three days, put Sephiroth on charge and, guess what he fired Veld the moment he was told he would replace the President."
I raised my eyebrows.
"That's very like him."
"Well, he put Tseng on charge of the Turks, Reno and Rude taking over security and I…"
There was a pause and I urged John to go on.
"You…?"
"In charge of the PORTAL and all things related to it. He said he didn't trust anybody but me on that."
I nodded and smiled, realizing Sephiroth would always be the same.
"He's not such an asshole after all. He's got sense, who knew!?"
I was being sarcastic and John didn't miss it.
"My lab was completely transferred to the PORTAL building, along with Physics. I am currently working with them to develop a way to communicate through the Portal."
And that was actually great news.
"Really? That's great."
"Next time I'll visit you, we'll make the experience."
"Sounds nice. Getting to talk to you every day, that's cool."
John gulped his wine and stared at me again.
"Reno asked about you. He was really pissed you left without saying a word."
"Sorry."
"Well he said he'd like to visit you as well."
"You're all welcome." I said, and turned as the microwave beeped. "And you can stay here, I have accommodations."
I took my time putting the dinner in place. There was endless talking, smiling and laughing, John seemed inspired into taking my mind out of the gutter. It was a fact he knew I was actually dying to know things about Sephiroth and he disclosed things without me asking directly.
After dinner, coffee followed and I showed him the rest of the apartment and the modifications I had made. John seemed impressed at the amount of stuff I had arranged right there in a corner of my living room. My PS3 and games - hundreds of them. And, speaking of which.
"Here." I opened a drawer I had nearby and grasped something I had in there to give John first-hand. Homework.
"What's this?" He asked, peaking inside the packet.
"The complete story of your Planet in a book. Plus, some stuff I printed from Internet."I said, hoping he wouldn't start paginating it in front of me. The last thing I needed was to see the virtual image of Sephiroth staring right back at me. "Take it."
He seemed confused.
"But why would I-"
"I trust you to do with that what you please." I declared. "All the complete information I gave you is there… as well as the one about the following years."
John gulped dry and I could see in him a frown of tiredness on his face. He seemed annoyed with something.
"You're not coming back, aren't you?"
His sudden declaration made my stomach churn.
"I belong here, John." I said, and turned to mind myself with the fireplace settings. He was right there on my tail.
"We both know that's not exactly true."
I took a deep breath and decided I would not give him space to talk about that tonight. It would inevitably lead to Sephiroth and I wanted to have some decent sleep. For a change.
So I turned to him with a weak smile and changed subject.
"I have to go to sleep, but you can stay up and do whatever you like." His eyes were sad on mine. "Tomorrow I'll take the afternoon off and we'll tour around, what do you think?"
He nodded at me and I was glad he seemed to understand I needed space to just not talk about Sephiroth and all things related to him. It was too soon and it hurt and I had the feeling John sensed that.
"The room on the left is all yours." I said, and I turned to my bedroom. "Good night."
"Good night."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know it's hard to see those two apart but things will fall into place :) I have the most amazing following chapters prepared eheh!
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