"The course of true love never did run smooth." –William Shakespeare
[Ch.2]
The alarm clock rang its morning greeting before being silenced by a heavy hand. Normally this would wake a weary Sephiroth from sleep but he was already up. In fact he'd been up two hours before his usual time. Apprehension struck him as he reviewed the president's plans for today. He was to meet Shinra and his entourage at the rooftop they would board a company helicopter together and fly to the mako extraction site near Fort Condor, from there he was to lead them through the foothills and towards its mass pool of mako. It was simple and easy enough but his SOLDIER background always warned him to anticipate trouble, especially when a certain sharp-tongued imp was aboard.
OOOO
The forecast looked grim as gray clouds blotted out the distance, the smell of rain and mako pollution hit Sephiroth's lungs as he stepped onto the tarmac. Despite the dismal conditions he could hear Shinra complain to the flight staff about the slight delay. A bald Turk wearing dark sunglasses even in the rain saluted the president hastily, to the left of Shinra stood the towering Mr. Wallace who spoke lowly to his accomplice, a small woman with long dark hair.
Mr. Wallace gave a curt nod to the passing first-class SOLDIER but all attempts at making eye contact with the girl were denied. He approached the president next who eyed him before giving him space into the chopper. The president squished in next, a literal squish for the man was so round the seats just couldn't contain him as gracefully as the others. Once everyone was seated the helicopter took off with a rocky start causing Shinra's business associates to gasp while the president reamed into the redheaded Turk piloting the aircraft.
OOOO
The landing was much more graceful than the takeoff or at least the president thought so for he didn't utter a curse as the group began piling out. Tifa fumbled while climbing out of the helicopter and onto the muddy earth below, Sephiroth being the gentleman he was offered his hand. He watched her stare from his gloved palm to his mako eyes and back again with a look of slight discontent. He hadn't known a woman who would rather plummet into mud than accept a generous hand, apparently logic won her over and she grasped his hand. Her touch still felt like ice on his skin as he shifted with ease to lower her to the ground. Tifa nodded her thanks and took to staring ahead at the scenery.
Fort Condor itself was nothing to look at; the town's population didn't top more than two hundred, most of them ranging from the poor to the ridiculously poor. The settlement was rather new and most of its stores and homes had actually been built in the central tower itself. The citizens here were use to Shinra personal, the town housed a rather large natural supply of mako plus a reactor was built here, and as typical with backwater hicks they greeted Shinra employees with the usual sneers and glares.
"Not a very friendly bunch," Wallace retorted.
Tifa smiled broadly, "Reminds me of home."
The statement itself made sense to Sephiroth, of course she didn't come from Midgar but her tough manner and cleverness had been instilled from an area familiar with the darker side of Shinra.
"Not everyone is grateful for the gifts that we have bestowed upon them," Shinra replied.
Sephiroth watched Tifa narrow her eyes at the president and was surprised by her direct disrespect. The president didn't notice the obscenity as he took to directing the group.
"The grounds too muddy near the site for a helicopter or vehicle so we're going to have to take the trail up. We might be delayed by the local monsters but this is why we have a first-class General here."
The girl smirked, "No disrespect sir, but I think Barret and I can handle ourselves."
"Its just for added security," Shinra waved her off.
Sephiroth on the other hand was downright offended. He hand never wanted to come to Fort Condor, nonetheless escort some planet loving simpletons up the foothills, and now she was insulting his abilities and purpose for being here. He analyzed the girl carefully; she was no swordsman or magician by any means. How could she possibly defend herself against any type of fiend?
"There should be extra security required whenever a woman is helping on a mission, ladies aren't meant to fight," Sephiroth added.
A fire sparked in Tifa's eyes and she directed it right at himself, he watched amused as her partner elbowed her attempting to bring her back down.
"You've been here before right Sephiroth? Lead the way then." The president asked signaling him forward.
Pushing aside their earlier criticism the troop cut a path through town.
OOOO
It was Fort Condor's rainy season and all the trails through the hills were layered in thick sticky mud. The mud wasn't the only thing slowing everyone down, the continuous steep hills and drops felt like torture on the knees. Despite all this, one member seemed to find a natural ease in her step. Clambering over rock and fallen trees with grace and agile speed she was ahead of the group.
"Hurry up Barret," Tifa grinned from the top of a rise.
The heavy man simply grumbled something inaudible about mountains and women. It was clear to Sephiroth that this girl was very familiar with scaling cliffs and hills. He was having trouble keeping up with her pace himself and being in second lead didn't suit him well either.
"Just hurry on ahead my dear," the president huffed.
The fat man was the last in line frequently stopping to catch his breath or to wipe mud from his shoes. Tifa nodded and disappeared behind the hedge line, Sephiroth thought very little of this separation. They had been rather lucky; so far they hadn't run into any monsters native to the territory.
Shinra leaned against a wall of rock clutching his chest, "I think it's time to take a short break."
Wallace crumpled into the mud without hesitation, "I'm with you there man."
Sephiroth's primary objective above all others was the protection of the president. Regardless of outside influence he stayed with Shinra but couldn't help ease the feeling that letting the girl wander off on her own was a mistake.
OOOO
An endless thirty minutes later the three men started back on the trail. There was no sign of Tifa but there were signs that she had passed through. To his absolute shock several feet away the body of a dead monster laid in plain sight. Further examination declared that the creature had died of blunt force trauma from a very small fist. Sephiroth found himself smirking, maybe she could fight after all.
Up ahead they came to a clearing, the strong caustic smell of raw mako filled the air and assaulted the senses, the pool wasn't too far now he figured. A piercing scream split the quiet, instantly Sephiroth withdrew Masamune and followed the sound leading him to ghastly scene. A large dragon like creature flew in circles around its chosen prey; every few seconds the beast made a mad dash towards its dinner the huge talons seeking flesh. Tifa was quick dodging the bombardier but she obviously hadn't been quick enough at one point. She clutched her shoulder in pain as blood rippled down her arm spurring the brute on.
If it was one thing Sephiroth knew about the martial arts it was that they were absolutely hopeless against an aerial target. Tifa had been royally screwed the moment she crossed its path. He came between the girl and her attacker pushing her aside, panicked she clung to his back her beautiful wide eyes pleading for safety. Instantly he was pleased, he felt like her lifeline similar to a hero in one of those foolish children's books.
The monster let out a menacing cry and swerved down with its full weight intent on ripping the two to shreds. This would be its final mistake, with precise timing and practiced aim Masamune impaled the beast through its chest. The sickening sound of tearing flesh was music to his ears, the creature landed with a heavy thud it writhed on the ground in its agony while he watched with a smirk. Another scream almost shattered Sephiroth's eardrums, "finish it quickly! It's suffering!" Tifa cried.
He felt her wet tears on his neck and realized she was crying stupidly for this monstrosity. A strategic flick of his wrist and the blade slit the beast's neck, it thrashed wildly for a second then stiffened and died in the mud before them.
Tifa's hands loosened their grip on his back Sephiroth felt slightly sorry for it but relieved at the same time. She wiped her tears quickly with the back of her hand her eyes quickly falling to the ground, "Thank you."
He was deeply intrigued by her sadness for something that was in all right, trying to kill her. At first Sephiroth thought it might be from her fear but he quickly dismissed the idea as quickly as it came, Tifa did not look like the type of woman who cried about something as trivial as fear.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment as she venomously wiped away her tears again. In one fluid extension of his arm he grasped her chin, her eyes widened in shock and she staggered against him. Sephiroth tightened his grip and she relaxed into his grasp, he looked into her eyes which were glassy with unshed tears.
"Why do you cry for it?"
"It was a living thing it was only acting on instinct, it doesn't know right or wrong and to watch it die in so much pain," she shook her head softly while fighting back another onslaught of tears.
He leaned in closer to her face watching the emotion play on her features; Tifa shuddered against the invasion of space
"It would have done the same to you," Sephiroth spoke lowly hoping his words would impact her.
She shook her head again the scent of rosewood radiated off her hair, "It would have killed me quickly that's in its instincts as well. The only being that plays with its prey are humans," she spat staring at him coldly.
It was tempted to slap the face he held in his hand but felt that to do so would only mar a work of art.
"So you're angry with me now for saving you?"
"No, I'm angry with you for extracting such joy from its pain."
Sephiroth almost laughed out loud, all his life SOLDIER had taught the joy of a kill, had praised those who could deliver the most devastating blows, promoted those who could kill the most, and honored the few soldiers who didn't see the faces of their dead at night. What could she possibly understand from a SOLDIER?
He released her chin so suddenly she almost fell forward into him, not that he would have complained much if she did.
"How are your injuries?" Sephiroth asked composing his professionalism.
"What do you care?" she sneered.
The poison in her tone stung surprisingly as she turned her back to him, he watched her compile herself as her shoulders straightened squarely finding solace in her wounded pride. He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her wounded arm forward.
Tifa hissed angrily, "Someday you'll have to learn how to treat a lady."
Sephiroth chuckled admirably at her quick tongue, most people didn't even have half the nerve to address him the way she did. The blood around the wound was already congealing the skin swollen and pink.
"Just a scratch," he stated satisfied.
"I could've told you that."
Tifa reclaimed her arm with a smart tug and turned her eyes to the horizon, "The mako pool must be pretty close by now. I can tell by the size of the monsters."
He nodded; they hadn't seen beasts of this size down on the slopes. A cool breeze picked up and shook the trees all around. A few loose leaves danced lazily with the gust sending scents of pine and cedar in the air, absorbed in silence the two took in the scene with a mutual appreciation.
"It's nice to get out of Midgar once in awhile," Tifa sighed.
"I suppose," he replied.
Her eyes wandered the backdrop taking in every tree and every blossom, "where are you from?"
Sephiroth shifted uncomfortably he usually avoided personal questions, "I was born inside Shinra so I guess you could say Midgar."
He noticed the sudden look of surprise before she corrected her features, "Oh, I see."
She crossed her arms over her chest and kicked the dirt with her toe, "What was it like?"
Tifa spoke this in a whisper so low he almost thought he imagined it, "As a child I was treated with a mild neglect, I had no contact outside Shinra and no contact with anyone other than the scientists or my trainers. I was pretty much left to my own devices most of the time when I wasn't occupied with the rigorous SOLDIER schedule."
He told her this with a nonchalant tone like it was any other story about a normal childhood. He knew it wasn't, but maybe he could convince her but he was pretty sure she didn't buy it. Tifa's eyes were permanently glued to the ground she nodded quickly and threw herself into silence again.
"And what about yours?" He asked.
She stared at the dirt for a long moment before a genuine smile grew on her lips, "Sunshine and lollipops compared to yours."
He found himself smiling, "I thought that's what you'd say."
A shout disturbed the serene moment, the two looked towards the clearing where Barret and the president were waving. In the rise of the moment Sephiroth had completely forgotten his main duty.
"I guess we should be heading back out," Tifa confirmed.
He was already ahead of her, although the president had been away from his supervision the man looked fine, despite the mud and sweat stains that had ruined his pressed suit.
"We thought something might have gotten to yah," Barret said between gulps of air.
Tifa clapped him affectionately on the back, "No way, I had back-up."
Barret lowered his voice enough so the others wouldn't over hear, "Strange fellow isn't he?"
Tifa contemplated the question, "Perhaps, or maybe just misunderstood."
Barret scowled at her with a stern eye, "You know why we are here, this is not the time to get attached to these people."
Tifa nodded somberly, "Don't worry you know I won't."
These people, what we're Shinra people truly like anyhow? She'd had only seen the ones who were obsessed with power and mako, she hadn't ever seen the ones who served Shinra because they had never had a choice.
NOTE: Whaddya know maybe I will turn this into something bigger than a oneshot! The next chapter will follow the two through the Fort Condor mako pool as things progressively heat up.