AU: Listen guys, I just read they're doing a refresh of the 1st two Suikoden games and I'm just… in Heaven. 2023, you're shaping up to be amazing to this light gamer heart.

Chapter start

In a word, my current situation was, at best, shit. I had a sick and whimpering mutt in my arms. Heavier than any puppy had a right to be, to have been an experiment. Also was a suddenly sick and terrified scrap of a girl, clinging to my arm hard enough to leave indents. The grip was strong and a tad painful, although I had no intention of drawing away.

And in the front, the cause of at least the latter of my current sick patients. I placed him as roughly the age of Rufus, maybe a little older. His face was already far too mature and drawn, as though the world's weight settled there.

That iconic silver hair wasn't yet the masterful weight tumbling further than his lower back. For now it was to the middle, thick and just as irritatingly perfect looking. The iconic clothing was missing as of yet too. With a jolt I recognized it as an early prototype for a Soldier third class uniform, without the helmet.

Those eyes though. They weren't empty pools nor were they insane. Odd like a cats, yes. Yet beautiful all the same. And already so lonely. The way Aerith had looked when I'd first met her. So desperate to be acknowledged.

It made sense for them both. Both raised within the confines of this intimidating building and treated as less than human.

I'd heard it said that beautiful things were fragile. Of course, that was an extremely difficult thing to tack onto Sephiroth. No denying his unfair level of beauty. Also no denying the swift strength that carried him through many a battle. Trained to be lethal and unfeeling.

Although he did feel, once upon a time, and still felt now. No one could deny though, outward strength be damned… Sephiroth was or would be extremely fragile mentally.

He stared me directly in the eyes as I looked him over, no fear or even drive in his gaze. Maybe some curiosity.

"Well?" I made myself rally. "Aren't you going to try and take back my pet?"

His head tilted and I tensed. Aerith beside me clutched all the harder. All the while the elevator swung us higher up.

"A useless endeavor. Even were I to collect the hound back, I've not been instructed to use force." His voice was smooth and low already going down like silken hot chocolate.

"Meaning?" I demanded a little sharply. Aerith had flinched at the sound of his voice.

He seemed aware of that too, eyes ghosting over her before returning to me. He seemed to hesitate, before taking a breath, shifting to clasp his hands behind his back.

"You have the keycard. I couldn't return to the science floor without your leave. Or someone with a keycard."

He'd spoken softer. A point in his favor. Truthfully, I was scared. Absolutely fucking terrified, filled with too much information. It made me intimately aware of every single breath. Hyper focused on them, as I knew this man could and probably would crush the air from my lungs. This man had so many negative things wrapped up in his life, so much evil leaching the humanity from him from the moment of his cursed birth. Least of all trying to destroy the whole planet. He would one day kill my best friend, torture her friends.

The most messed up, most twisted thing. It wasn't even his fault. He'd never known who he was, and his only friends had left him behind. All his training had churned out a perfect killing machine, not a socially adept, or even awkward, human being. The one friend to survive had dropped a bomb on him about his origins and then callously asked for help. Monsters have to help monsters, after all.

But truthfully none of them were monsters. It was the Shinra corporation that truly deserved that title. Villains weren't born, they were created and all that jazz. Power and greed had corrupted most of the Shinra elite. A lack of belonging and lies had stacked up on Sephiroth.

If I could, I would…

Shaking my head, I forced myself to focus. I'd just done something incredibly stupid and self serving. The hound, though pitiful, had been impulsive and not part of any plan I'd ever had.

I had always acted without much thought, but I couldn't afford the old life mistakes. If I was smart I would toss the thing to Sephiroth and hope that endeared me to him. I wasn't necessarily worried about Hojo, President Shinra wouldn't allow harm to his blood he claimed.

Despite that my grip tightened. The thing was dying anyway, I thought. At the least it could have some warmth and comfort before then.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened on to the familiar hallway. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, I grasped Aerith and led her out, turning us both to my door.

It was further up, the far left door being mine. I was halfway up the hallway when I turned around again. Sephiroth had left the elevator and taken up a post against the wall across it. Even leaning on the steel, he was elegant, arms crossed, that hair hiding his face.

I swallowed. "What are you doing? Come on, you said you can't leave. I'm certain someone will be by soon."

I expected him to ignore me when those eyes settled on me, making my skin crawl. He didn't move.

"You're friend would not enjoy my company." He said it as fact and the tone struck me. Already so used to not being wanted company.

Aerith heard it too, and the kindness in her reared her head. She wasn't so pale now at the very least. Sweat had dried along her face and her smile was small and worn. Obviously, a tad forced as she clung to me still.

"Please, don't worry. I just… I think there was too much happening today." Her voice was weakened but there was strength behind the tone itself. She didn't want to be argued with.

"It gets cold out here," she added. She released me and actually took a step towards him. "You don't want to be alone out here, do you?"

His expression didn't much change as he tilted his head. "You needn't worry."

"Sophie has cookies," Aerith added. Whatever attack the planet had sent her was fading, or her will was pushing it away.

If I wasn't watching so intently, I'd have missed the small twitch to his lips, missed the expulsion of breath. Not quite a snort, but from him close enough.

Aerith had fear in her, but bravery to not ignore. Or be ignored. She'd meandered back down the hall and now she stood before him, studying him. Sephiroth bore it elegantly and silently for a moment before he tilted his head away. She didn't deal with that.

Little hands grasped at his arm. My breath strangled at the motion, watching his body tense, gaze returning to burn her. This was the look of game Sephiroth when he was angry at Genesis, upon finding out the Shinra version of his truth. Sharp and ready to destroy whatever stood in his path.

Aerith paled momentarily at the contact, but she rallied again. I had… zero clue where she got the balls for it.

A switch seemed to happen during that standstill, knowledge passing between them. I wondered if it was the Jenova cells reacting negatively to what Aerith was. I was fairly certain that was what had caused Aeriths harsh reaction earlier.

"How can we be friends if you won't stay with us?" She cajoled him, soft yet pressing gently. Similar to the way she would needle Cloud later.

It was enough. Sephiroth unbent from the wall, the harsh look disappearing to blank control. Aerith smiled with relief, and shifted so her arm was wrapped in his. This he bore, as she led him to where I was.

Before they reached I spun on my heels and scurried quickly to my door, swiping the card and going in. My heart was doing a wonderful job at making a bid for freedom, hammering so hard I bet the already enhanced man could hear it like a bass line. It was obscenely loud in my ears at least, and the pressure was distracting.

While Aerith led him into the room, pushing him to the table and chairs, I went and dropped the hound on my bed. It whimpered pitifully again, blinking goop covered eyes at me, it's trembles seeming worse now. I doubted it had ever felt carpet under it, let alone soft blankets. I desperately ignored the blood that would drip into those blankets, knowing if it lasted the night, I'd have them cleaned.

It was unnaturally bulky already, and I recognized it better now. Though not covered in veins from the bulging muscles yet, I knew I was right. It was one of the Wrath hounds.

I pat at its head absentmindedly, noting the blood congealed into my sleeve.

"Damn it," I mumbled.

"The blood may be toxic."

The voice caused me to jump and I spun around. Sephiroth was a lot closer than I thought he'd be, looking at the beast on the bed.

"What makes you say that?" Aerith was crawling onto the bed, maneuvering the hound so it laid half in her lap. She paused when he said that though. She sent me an apologetic look before tugging my nightgown from under the pillows, blanketing her lap before completing her maneuver.

"Oh thanks," I said without much heat. Just a little bite.

Sephiroth sighed. "It came from the scientist division. Many of their experiments have hidden dangers."

Oh gods, you really aren't kidding, buddy. I snorted, crossing to the wardrobe to dig around for a new outfit. I was fairly sure the blood wasn't poisoned but it wasn't knowledge I was going to push through. Besides he wasn't saying that to be venomous. He was stating a warning out of kindness.

Speaking of knowledge I had to gain without admitting I already had it…

"What's your name?" I tugged out a green dress and gave him what I hoped was a peaceful smile.

"Sephiroth." He said his name as though it didn't matter, and I realized to him it probably didn't.

Despite it all I took pride in my name here, the connection it gave me to Rufus. The connection it allowed me to form with Aerith. To Sephiroth it was just another word, one he'd been trained to respond to.

I still felt my heart randomly dropping its beating pattern when our eyes connected. Pushing through that was necessary.

"It isn't ideal," I commented with a sigh. "But we'll make do. I'm Sophie, and that's Aerith. Let's get along."

I brushed past him to head into the restroom and finally change. Surrounded in the sterile white of the walls and tiles the blood on the blue dress seemed all the more obscene. The heaving was natural, palm flattening over my mouth.

I despised blood. The dress couldn't leave my body quick enough, ripping it off and stuffing it into the trashcan. The skin of the arm was red by the time I was finished scrubbing at it. Truly this was the wrong world for me, or would be in a decade or so. Blood would be the least of my worries.

Once I'd finished dressing, I stepped back into the main room and found Sephiroth once again against a wall, Aerith still stroking the puppy. I settled on the bed as well, fingers ghosting along the hell hounds ears.

There wasn't a lot of speaking. Eventually, Aerith and I coerced the future SOLDIER into a chair. The little Ancient was far more talkative than me, eventually flitting away from my side to the table as well, pushing sweets onto Sephiroth.

He eventually ate one, a hint of irritability crossing his eyes before they softened. Aerith had that effect on people, myself included. You couldn't help but want to listen to her, even if you hated the thing she wanted.

Only thing that could have improved the moment was if Sephiroth was still young enough to be an adorable kiddo like Rufus had been.

Speaking of…

The little chime denoting a keycard swipe with granted access heralded the door swishing open. Rufus strode in with all the natural grace and arrogance of one used to being bowed to. Trailing him for the first time ever was another familiar face.

Tseng, and I was irritated just by the sight. He really did not look like a teenager, but I knew he'd look the same for the events of the main game. Really, was it some Wutai bloodline, that had them all look ageless? Or was he just special?

This told me that the usual Turk for Rufus had been exchanged as well, making me more curious as to why.

"Sit down," I grasped Sephiroth by the arm. He'd rose when the door opened, first to danger, and now standing at attention. They'd already begun turning him into a SOLDIER, then.

The program already existed after all.

Shockingly enough he listened, after sending me an inscrutable look. I supposed it had to do with me touching him, something he wasn't used to. Touches probably hurt in the past. Measures to control or to examine, never to show love or friendship. Not even basic human kindness.

Rufus eyed the exchanged, roving his gaze over Sephiroth. I wondered then if he knew who he was. Did my brother already know of the heinous experiments?

"Get the hound," he ordered.

Tseng moved to follow the order. Instincts gripped me again to my detriment and I launched from the chair quick enough for it to fall to the ground. My small form once again grabbed the hound, pushing away the hand that tried to forcibly remove him from my arms.

"Enough!" Rufus snapped it now, and I refused to look at him. He sounded angry and vexed. Even then he wouldn't let someone else touch me. Tseng withdrew, his face void of all emotions as he took a few steps back gracefully.

"Sophie, this isn't a request."

"I'm keeping it," I muttered.

I didn't even know why. It wasn't like I'd fallen in love with the beast, or had some great urge to rescue all dogs. It was lonely though, and my heart bled for its fate. Whether it survived this night or not, Hojo would cause it to lose its mind.

A prelude, maybe, to Sephiroth. All creatures damned to go mad, while the scientist thought he did good work.

Aerith made to come towards me, but Sephiroth actually grasped her shoulder, exerting light pressure to keep her there. Don't get involved, his eyes said clear as a bell. The subtle shake to his head confirmed it.

I swallowed when I heard Rufus sigh. "Have you any idea what my day was so far? It was to be a simple day, learning the business."

His voice got louder until I knew he stood before he. My grip tightened. The Hound shuffled a little, peeking it's face up into mine, whining a little.

"Instead, I was told my sister was once again missing. Gone before her new guard could even begin to understand the way her mind works. Fine enough, according to Father. After all, what true mischief could harm you inside the tower?"

His fingers slipped beneath my chin, forcing me up. I locked eyes with him, seeing the anger but also the worry. The Hound growled and I shifted it, pressing it closer. If he noted the reaction he didn't show it.

"Then low and behold, a disturbance in the science division. A research specimen stolen. And a future SOLDIER candidate taken along for the ride. Have you any idea what those people are? What they do?" His own grip tightened. "What he is capable of?" His other hand gestured to Sephiroth. "And all you take is a girl no stronger or smarter than you are."

His hand withdrew from my chin, only to arc outwards. Aerith gave a small cry and I heard a commotion. My focus remained on Rufus as he prepared to strike me. Never, even in my former life, had I ever been struck by family. I flinched away, and the hound suddenly snarled. My grip on it stopped the lunge.

At the same time Rufus seemed to change his mind mid swing, arm slowing down until he lightly grazed my cheek. I blinked, not surprised to find my eyes were watering. A child's body was inconvenient in that I wasn't able to control certain reactions.

"What am I to do with you? You're young, yes, but that only gets so far. Father won't discipline you. In fact, he's already decided you can keep the filthy beast so long as you cease going near the research and development floors. That's the deal Sophie. Your last free pass. You've something to lose now. Don't let it be done."

He glanced away from me, and I glanced at Aerith. I was shocked to find her not far from Rufus and I, eyes wide and afraid. Around her middle, hefting her upwards, was an arm. Sephiroth had a grip on her that prevented her from escaping. He dropped her down when it seemed Rufus wouldn't make a move.

"Tseng," Rufus ordered.

The Wutain bowed, eyes locking onto the hound in my arms. "A little weak, sir, but certainly capable of heavy damage. It's already showing a loyalty similar to that of your Darkstar. They both show incredible reflexes capable of protecting… and destroying."

Rufus hummed. "That's fine then. Sophie?"

"Yes?"

"You're grounded."

End chapter.

Author note: Sorry, I haven't been, I used to do this for all my fictions. I'm going to start responding to reviews at the end of each chapter. Hope you all enjoyed! And if you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to let me know.

Review responses:

Onimiyuu: Thank you so much for the reviews, and I'm sorry I didn't interact sooner. I'm happy people are enjoying Vergil; he's definitely gotten into my heart. It always seemed to me Scarlet, crazy and hungry for power as she was, would definitely use her body as a weapon like that. I hope you're well and still enjoying!

Xenocanaan: I couldn't resist adding in another besides Sephiroth. I honestly love the character, Sephiroth is fascinating. Despite all of Sophie's thoughts to stay neutral she isn't passive enough. Seeing a lonely Aerith was too much for her soul to ignore. Hope you're doing good! And you enjoyed this update.

Phoenix: Absolutely, and thank you for reviewing! I'm glad to know you're enjoying it. Hopefully it keeps being worth it for you and everyone else.