Chapter Fifteen: Many Facets to a Jewel

Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and touch and greet each other.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Tifa slipped right back inside the door, closing it as gently as possible and thankful that it was well taken care of so it was easy to do without causing noise. Sephiroth was nearly dressed when she turned around, fastening one of the belts of his armor and offering her a curious expression at the chance in her attitude. It was easy to read she wanted to be silent by the way her body had shifted. For most the subtle change in step and hold would be more difficult to pick out but Sephiroth picked it up immediately.

"Turks downstairs." Tifa whispered when she came over. "Probably looking for you...and if they saw me come in then we should leave soon."

"You assume I'm afraid of that worthless lot?" Sephiroth commented with a small smirk on his face, despite his less than complete recovery minutes ago he was returned to his full, smug, glory. At least as much as Tifa could tell, making her frown just a bit at his answer, his voice was deep and tended to be easy to pick up at times like this. When he wasn't bothering to follow her example of whispering.

"No I didn't say that." She hissed at him to shush him. "But what if they start something here? That girl didn't want any trouble and you wouldn't be much of a guest if you repaid her hospitality by getting her family's store shot to bits."

Sephiroth's smile at least faded from his face, though he didn't echo her frown he was quiet and he silently nodded his accent to follow Tifa's example at the reminder. The girl had risked much to help him, more people he owed favors he had no idea as to how he could repay. He eyed the window Tifa opened and the flakes of white drifting down just outside it with a skeptical expression. Until her lithe body, even in the thicker winter clothing, slipped through without difficulty. He didn't have any heavier clothes but such weather had never bothered him much, should have been another sign in his youth that he wasn't like everyone else. Though he'd rarely been exposed to snow and when he did see it he was still so young he was more happy to join in the snowball fights and didn't have nearly the concerns that came with the years that followed.

Pushing memories he'd rather ignore from his mind he slipped out after her, gracefully moving out the impossibly long blade without even catching it on the frame of the window. He heard people moving up the stairs and the protest of the girl a moment before Tifa pushed it shut again and pulled him down into a snowbank in a rather unceremonious fashion.

It was cold, but after his time at the torture tank in Nibelheim he had a greater appreciation for the chill of winter. On his bare chest it stung only barely before he'd lifted himself up and began dusting the white flakes free of his armor and hair. Though it was a battle he was more likely to lose, the precipitation was gathering in his hair and on his shoulderblades quickly, it seemed a storm was starting. "Did you really need to dump us free of the roof?"

She pushed him around a corner and frowned at him with another hushing sound before he heard the window re-opening behind them. "Huh, could have sworn someone was up here...eh Rude?"

There was no reply from the quieter of the pair and they could barely make out the girl's voice. "We have a cat, she could have been running and hiding. She doesn't like strangers."

Sephiroth smirked as he recognized the voice of the turk in question, he'd always had a certain fondness for making Reno nervous back in the short time they'd worked near each other in the building. Rude didn't bother him overly, he was quiet and sometimes it was good to have a little silence in the world, why he liked the red haired fool he worked with though...who knew? As tempting as it was to make him squirm, he remained where Tifa had pulled them, listening in.

"Hmm, well I guess...but what about Tifa? I saw her walk in here to this store and she never left." Reno commented. "But there is a bunch of snow knocked free of here and some footprints...don't suppose you've been harboring fugatives eh..."

The window closing again made whatever else he was saying impossible for them to overhear even if they had been closer, it was obvious they knew the two had been there and were considering punishing the family.
"We should have just stayed there." Sephiroth commented in a low tone to Tifa, she was chewing her lip unsure of what to do when he commented glancing back at him. "We should go remedy them of the idea that she was or is protecting us."

"It's dangerous." Tifa shook her head. "You still aren't completely well...and the idea is not start trouble inside. Sephiroth...wait."

He'd already began back toward the front and she grabbed his shoulder to stop him, pulled a bit off balance a moment but righting herself before meeting his eyes. Blushing a little at the feelings that gentle glow inspired deep inside her chest.

"Trust me...I owe the girl anyway." Sephiroth winked at her and was back heading inside so quickly she had to rush to catch up. They entered just as Reno and Rude were returning down the stairs with the girl.

She meanwhile was cut off mid protest that she'd been helping when she saw the two coming back inside, her eyes widening in fear of what else could go wrong.
"Don't worry." Sephiroth commented with a evil grin that seemed geniune enough it made the girl back behind Reno and Rude who paused once they got low enough to see the ex-soldier apparently reborn. "You kept your part of the deal, I won't hurt your family little girl. Did you two have business with me?"
"Sephiroth." Reno, to his credit, managed to keep his voice straight. "I didn't believe the President...you need to come back with us. Rufus wants to speak with you."

"Rufus?" Sephiroth's aura of power was there, barely beyond something tangible, he gave the name a uncaring tone as he repeated it. Implying he didn't know or seem to care to know whoever it was that he was actually asking about.

"The President...after you killed the last guy his son Rufus took over..." Reno commented, pausing when Rude put a hand on his shoulder and he straightened up a bit. He'd been looking a bit nervous til the correction. The pair of them descended the stairs in a show of courage. "He runs Shinra now, wants to speak to you. Just to talk."

"Why would I care to bother with the insignificant brat of the avarice filled insect I removed before my withdrawal from the company?" Sephiroth didn't allow the smile to surface at the shocked expression Tifa was giving him, apparently his acting was rather masterful.

"Hey now....no need to get all aggressive." Reno commented with his usual smile, though his tone told volumes as to his actual nervousness. The ex-SOLDIER could read the fear from them easily enough. "He just wants to talk. Make sure you aren't still crazy as the reports claim, also to remind you that anyone helping you could be considered an enemy of the world as well until such a thing as your sanity is no longer in question."

"Bold demands from such small vermin." Sephiroth replied with a laziness that inferred he was losing his patience with the conversation. "I will see him at the inn here tomorrow. If any harm is directed at this place, any extra troops while I am here I will deal with such bothers and consider him a enemy in the future."

It was threat enough that nothing else needed to be said, he slipped outside before they could form a retort, ignoring the girl, them, even the horribly confused looking Tifa that followed after him. Though she waited until they were half back to the inn, and well into the now thick falling snow to hit his arm and actually protest.

"What the hell are you doing? Don't piss Rufus off, you really want more people after you right now?" Tifa had her brows furrowed and there was a furious expression on her face. "You have enough problems."

"It's fine." He grinned a bit at how ruffled she got. "It's all a game, I can't let them think they're controlling the board now Tifa or they'll walk all over me. There is so much I already need to deal with I might be able to succeed in getting an ally instead of an enemy."

"You are thinking about working with Shinra again?" Tifa blinked again in surprise. Sure, Rufus had been better lately about helping in the time after the meteor and the holy and even after the events of the stigma but she didn't trust him at all. He'd always been a horrible human-being and aimed at doing anything for power.

"It all depends on what is said, at the very least I could let them think I'm considering it until other threats are dealt with." Sephiroth shrugged, unaware of the slight dismay of the girl with him. "Regardless, I could do with at least one night's rest and a decent meal. No sides of this little war over me are going to move with so many eyes on the area for a while. Despite my demands I figure there will be a lot of the actual shinra army posted outside the city."

"That just makes it harder if we need to get out." Tifa replied with a frown still set on her lips. Adding up the political moves the general was making, he may not still have the title but he didn't fail to be strategic in his actions despite her first impression. "I don't know how you could consider this a night without worry though."

She took it upon herself to explain the changes to the group as opposed to watching them argue more, allowing Sephiroth to retire to a slight alteration of rooms. They rented the space in the loft of the building as he stated he wouldn't have issues with it being a little colder than the rest. A lot of travelers were there so it seemed a better resolution than having to stay in the main area or be put out. Much to the eternal rejoicing of Tifa Sephiroth remained extremely polite throughout the interaction and her friends didn't arrive until just as he was leaving.

"Nothing but a bunch of bodies in the woods." Cloud stated darkly upon them all sitting at a table and Tifa giving them the idea of what was happening. "He's still incredibly frightening...I don't like the idea of possibly starting a war here but I can see the point being made. Rufus is too greedy and power hungry to pass up even the chance of pulling someone like Sephiroth back into his control. Even turning him against this rival group looking for power would be something he'd want."

"There do seem to be as many sides to this as seeds on a dandelion." Red commented with a shake of his large head. "I wonder who else will come out of the woodwork, I know we aren't really on Rufus' side as the Shinra are to blame for all of this...but I'd much rather see Hojo removed."

"As would I." Vincent put in his agreement. "Though I will not be remaining for this...I need to start searching for Lucrecia."

"Vincent..." Tifa wasn't sure what to say on that change of topic, so many negative things lately, horrific things they never knew...

"It is what is it." He answered Tifa before she could say anything else. "If I could possibly help her, even put her mind to rest by the removal of the piece of Jenova you state was implanted in her...I must."

"But Vincent..." Cloud couldn't quite come to say it either, they all knew the alternative was something the man didn't want to face.

"We will cross the bridge when we come to it." Vincent answered darkly, standing from the table and doing his best not to consider the idea that they may have to slay his beloved to kill off the taint of the creature on the land. It wasn't an option until it was absolutely last...he wasn't certain he could keep fighting off the control of Chaos on his mind if he was forced to destroy the only woman he loved.

The table was quiet as he slipped out into the near blizzard outside the inn, he like Sephiroth was very capable of enduring the elements because of his augmentations.

"Regardless of all the political issues, one thing is certain, we need to stop Hojo before he forces his madness on anyone else." The sentiment from Red was agreed around the table.

"We should head to bed, we'll likely need the rest before all this plays out." Cloud stated, everyone wanted to stop discussing this. "Did Vincent give you his key before he left?"

"Yes." Tifa nodded to Cloud, not quite the entire truth. She'd traded one of the rooms so they could compromise in getting the loft but two people had to stay there. She didn't want to ask Cloud or Red after all the complaints about the cold so she didn't want to tell Cloud she'd be joining his rival either.

Thankfully, no questions were asked when she said she wanted to get something else to drink to take to her room and she managed to retire with a couple plates to the loft without the rest of her party taking note of it. It was much chillier and the roof was lower than the rest of the floors but the lower part of the room was still very warm, the heat rising from the lower floors and other fires was insulated by the areas with rugs but released by the ones without. She found herself curling a blanket around her even before she sat to eat with Sephiroth.

He watched her as he began his own meal. "You could have asked your furry companion to stay here you know, likely he would have been much more comfortable than you."

"I'll be fine." Tifa returned with a shake of her head. "I already ask a lot of them and don't want to see anymore fights start between you all."
"I get along with the non-human better than most of the rest of your group." Sephiroth retorted logically, but gave up on trying to convince her. The floor set up for sleeping was warm enough that she should be fine.

They ate in a mostly pleasant silence and she was relieved that the owners were kind enough to bring them up some hot chocolate, sitting next to him on the furs that worked as a sort of couch for the room. Glad for the closeness to the floor where it was warmer and laughing to herself, giving a second laugh when he offered her that curious expression of his. He always managed to say a lot without saying anything.

"I was just thinking about stuff." She explained her amusement before sipping at the warm drink appreciatively. "A month ago my worst worry was a bar fight or a rough stain on the counter. Now I'm swept back up into the events of the world and having dinner and hot chocolate with my once arch-enemy. Just sorta strange how things work out."

He smiled lightly at her explanation. "I must admit that I don't think this would be something most people would be capable of predicting. At least I'm no longer an arch-enemy, I noticed you didn't correct me having my weapon today, finally having a bit more faith in me?"

"Faith?" Tifa considered the strange phrasing. "I guess I sort of trust you more. Even if you did just run off and complicate everything more than needed."

"Good to know." He replied lightly, though the conversation was something he wouldn't commonly engage in he was glad to know Tifa was starting to trust him, if only it was a small bit. Whatever happened between them in the alley would be okay, even if they didn't talk about it he was glad to have the company again after his night bleeding in the forest.

"It's all happening so fast too...hopefully we'll be able to stop Hojo before he hurts anyone else." Tifa commented, thinking back to the haunted expression on Vincent's face. He often seemed as such, but today it was echoed much more clearly than most days.

"It'll get done. Soon if I'm able to direct the meeting tomorrow in the manner I'm hoping." Sephiroth replied confidently, making her laugh at him again and earning another raised brow.

"You are always so self-assured." She chuckled, setting down a now empty glass and tugging the blanket around her more. "It's just a little strange I guess, Cloud can be like that sometimes but not nearly as much as you. I don't know how you don't worry."

"No point." He answered, his own empty glass joining hers on the tiny table before he settled a second blanket over her shoulders to help insulate her more. "Perhaps you should try being less concerned with everything."

She blushed lightly at the intimate gesture even though he wasn't looking at her but at adjusting the blankets for her comfortably. Making it easier for her to look over his face and not follow his advice at the idea of kissing him again. It was too soon and she wasn't sure how to approach this sort of relationship at all really, she never had with Cloud. The one time they'd done anything he'd approached her and she'd given in. "Maybe I'm just better with other people taking charge of things. I've always been more of a follower, even in the events we get mixed up in I've never been much of a leader."

"You can always change that." Sephiroth answered with a shrug as he leaned back again happy she was sufficiently covered to stay warm. Unaware of her eternal struggle or the true underlying meaning of what she'd said. "But perhaps starting tomorrow, both of us should get some sleep. Hard to say when Rufus might decide to come knocking, I figured he'd prefer to be late than early but he might try to disturb me anyway he can."

"Yeah, sleep sounds good." Tifa agreed instantly, though she was glad he was already moving to lower the lights to a level comfortable to sleep with and couldn't see the telling blush on her face. Unconsciousness was something that would be out of her reach for a while with what she was actually considering.

"Here I am sharing a room with Sephiroth, having yelled at him before about feeling me up and run off on him after we kissed and I'm the one having impure thoughts." Tifa thought to herself in an eternal whine. "What the hell is the matter with me?"

End Chapter

I tried to make it holiday like for a christmas/new year type chapter. Happy holidays to all the people reading my stuff! Yay for a more fluffy end to a chapter also!

-Nera

To my reviewers:

brokenmaelstrom - I may still go back and go over what Sephiroth did there and such but I'm not sure yet.

TornAngelWings - Yes! Soonish in fact. I figure they'll be around for the meeting.

laguna - Yay ty, I hope you keep liking and yes this chapter was some fluff!

toya kei - Yes, I like Vincent too. I don't think he got nearly enough exploitation of background in the game and am trying to do a bit more with that here.

Kistune6 - Really? I love FF7. It's the last FF to come out I actually enjoyed playing. Hope you keep liking the story as I guess they aren't common these days.

Seph Owa13 - I hate when I have PC issues and I hope yours clear up for you. and yes I liked dropping Yuffie as well.