(Kit Thespian walks in, Hojo follows)
Kit Thespian: You see, Hojo, the point of this story is to tell everyone how weren't always such a bad guy.
Hojo: But I like being a bad guy. It's fun.
Kit Thespian: As fun as being married to Lucrecia?
Hojo: Um...
Kit Thespian: Didn't think so.
Hojo: What about all of my maniacal experiments?
Kit Thespian: Don't worry; you still get to do 'em.
Hojo (grinning madly and rubbing his hands together): And I still get to operate on that stooge?
Vincent (calls from offstage): Hey, I heard that!
Hojo: Who cares if you heard it? You are a stooge!
Vincent (angrily): What?
Hojo: You heard me! A stooge! And a moron! And a egocentric imbecile!
Vincent (approaching): Why, I oughta...!
Kit Thespian (groans): Here we go again.
Disclaimer: Kit Thespian does not own Final Fantasy VII or the characters therein. And she is not making any money off of this.
Chapter Five
Young Promises
Things were different from that night on, quite different. Now that Gast knew about the romance, there seemed to be little point in keeping up pretenses. It wasn't that Gast disapproved of the match. In fact, he encouraged it in his own way. It was a little confusing for Hojo. For a man who seemed to dislike the more tender feelings, Gast was one of his biggest cheerleaders. Now,Gast wasn't as obvious about it as Dr. Rosem. Then again, nobody was as obvious about anything as Rosem was.
It was rather embarrassing, really. He hated the teasing, and it made him extremely angry. But the easy way that Lucrecia handled the situation helped a good bit. One day, after a small round of teasing, Gast had left the laboratory and a red-faced Hojo. Hojo probably would have thrown a kleenex box at his boss' head if Lucrecia had not stopped him.
They eventually developed the formula for injecting the proper amounts of Mako into human beings. Their first test subject was Tamrelan, a captain in the Shinra armies, and the General's most likely successor. Hojo had to appreciate the man's resolve. There was never any fear in his eyes for one moment, not even when they pricked him with the needle.
The results were to come the next day. As important as this experiment was, it was the furthest thing from Hojo's mind at this time.
"Lucrecia...will you marry me?"
Hojo was standing in front of the bathroom mirror in the HQ building, practicing. He had the ring box in his pocket, and was miming opening it while he practiced.
He was saying the intended question over and over, in every which way, "Lucrecia, will you marry me? ...Lucrecia, will you marry me? Lucrecia, will you..."
"Dr. Hojo?" Gast spoke as he entered the bathroom, "what on earth are you doing?"
Hojo hid his startlement and found that he could not find a proper answer.
"...You know what they say about people who talk to themselves, Professor," Gast said.
"I know, Dr. Gast. I wasn't talking to myself. I was...rehearsing."
"Rehearsing what?"
"Er..." Hojo pulled the ring box out of his pocket as an answer. Gast looked at it, wide-eyed, and then started to laugh.
"Hojo, you? But really, I'm happy for you. When are you going to ask her?"
"...Whenever I ask her."
"That seems like a good time."
Just then, Dr. Rosem entered the restroom. When he saw the ring box in Hojo's hand, he went ballistic.
"Hojo! You gonna ask Lucrecia to ma...?"
"Sshht!" Hojo hissed, "Will you keep it down?"
"Oh," Rosem covered his mouth, "sorry... But are you?"
"Yes."
"Geez, what took you so long?"
Hojo raised an eyebrow, "So long? I've only known her for four months."
"Hey, that's long nowadays."
"You're not to say a word to anyone until after the fact, is that understood?"
"Cross my heart, hope to die..."
In the parking lot...
"Do you think the results will be better or worse this time?" Lucrecia asked Hojo as they walked towards her car. Again, they were perfectly alone.
"Um...I don't know," Hojo answered.
"Hojo, are you okay? You've barely said anything."
"...I'm not a talkative person, Lucrecia."
"I know, but...you seem worried. Is anything wrong?"
"Er, no, nothing's wrong."
"Then what is it?"
"Lucrecia..." Hojo stopped walking. Lucrecia halted as well, waiting for what he had to say with a concerned look on her face.
For the first time in his life, Hojo was paralyzed with fear. He knew that Lucrecia would be willing to wait all night for something that he had to say if he deemed it important enough, but he didn't know if he would last that long. How would he initiate the subject? How would he ask her? What would she say?
But deep in his heart he knew that she would say yes. And she would say it with such a glow in her eyes, that it would shame the moonlight itself. It was the thought of seeing this look on her face that gave him the resolve to do this...
At a glass window...
Rosem and Gast peered out towards the parking lot. They saw the couple standing by Lucrecia's car.
"Bet you five he chickens out," Rosem said.
"I don't gamble...not with money," Gast answered, "But this could be very interesting."
"Omigosh...he's doin' it!" Rosem nearly screeched with excitement when Hojo pulled out the ring box and got down on one knee. The two didn't need to be able to read lips to know what Hojo was asking at that moment. Lucrecia gasped as her eyes became as wide as saucers and she put her hands to her face.
"Now, will she say 'yes'?" Rosem spoke, in a sports commentator voice, "Will...she...say...yes...?"
They could hear the extreme volume of Lucrecia's squeal (which may have also been the word 'yes') as she literally jumped on Hojo, sending them both tumbling down to the pavement. After they were both able to collect themselves, Hojo managed to put the ring on Lucrecia's ready and waiting finger.
"Hey, she said 'yes'!" Rosem said.
"You think?" Gast chuckled, "Somebody's coming to work with a sore bum tommorrow."
The next day...
The results of Captain Tamrelan's Mako treatments were similar to the canine's, but better. The President was so pleased that he considered giving the three scientists a medal. He had them come into his office to personally give them their next assignment. Hojo tried to stand as still as possible without wincing at the pavement scrapes on his rear. Lucrecia tried not to look at her engagement ring.
They stood in a row, Gast, Hojo, and Lucrecia, in front of the President's desk. He grinned before saying,
"Your next big assignment will be in Nibelheim, three months from now."
"If you don't mind my asking," Gast said, "why three months?"
"Preparations have to be made before you come," Shinra answered, "A new organism has been discovered by our scanners in the snow cap areas. As soon as it is moved to our facility in Nibelheim, we will be ready for you and your assistants to begin your work. Oh, and one more thing: I will send one of my Turks to accompany you on this assignment."
"One of your Turks?" Gast raised an eyebrow.
The Manufacturing Department in Administrative Research, a.k.a. the Turks, was known for dirty work and espionage. This had to be a fairly important project if the President felt the need to send one of them along. The thought of having one of those goons breathing down their necks sent chills up the scientists' spines.
"Just for your safety," Shinra said, "this is top secret, so you will discuss it with no one, not even amongst yourselves."
And that was that.
One month later...
Hojo and Lucrecia had decided on a small wedding, since Lucrecia had no family and the only family that Hojo had was a half-brother whom he had never met. A few of their friends attended, Gast and Rosem included, and the new couple was just as happy as if their wedding had been in a cathedral with hundreds of guests (Hojo was happier simply because it was a small wedding).
Since there was the unspoken threat of death between Hojo and his best friend if the latter cracked any "wedding night" jokes, Rosem simply wished the couple many blessings and kept his mouth shut otherwise, though he was sorely tempted. But he did raise a toast to the bride and groom and publicly wished them a long, happy, and healthy life together.
During the month's preparation, there had been a big question hanging in the air as to where Hojo and Lucrecia were to spend their honeymoon. Lucrecia had suggested Costa Del Sol, a beach resort, but Hojo's objection was that he (as gaunt as he was) did not wish to be seen in a swimming suit.
"I wouldn't mind you in a swimming suit..." Lucrecia had coyly said.
"I know you wouldn't, but I don't really want the general public to see me in a bathing suit."
The next suggestion was the Gold Saucer, but Hojo said that his grandparents loved to gamble, so he spent a lot of time there during his childhood. There was activity everywhere and never a moment's peace. The hotel there was a haunted mansion, and he seriously doubted that Lucrecia would want to spend her wedding night in a inn that had a hanging man for a receptionist. Lucrecia had never been to the Gold Saucer, so when she heard about the hangman and the maniacally laughing cabinets, she quickly agreed that that was not the place to go. Hotels like that could easily spoil a romantic mood.
That came down to another choice: Icicle Village. Hojo could not find any reason to object to this spot. It was cold there (that gave him an excuse to wear a lot of clothes), remote (Hojo liked quiet), and beautiful (Lucrecia would love it). Lucrecia had never been there, she said, but she loved snow.
"Well, if you love snow," Hojo had answered her, "Then you will adore the place."
When they got there, it was near evening, and the street lamps were lit. They put a lovely glow into the snow that Lucrecia would venture to call "magical." It was the less busy time of the year, so the inn was not only cheaper but much more peaceful. The innkeeper took one look at the couple, and thought to himself, "Here come newlyweds...Time to get out the 'Do not disturb' sign..."
Much later on that night, when Hojo was starting to drift off to sleep, he heard his wife murmur, "I love you..."
His eyes popped open. He looked at Lucrecia in astonishment; he had never heard anyone say those words to him before. He had not been able to bring himself to say them, even after they were engaged. Lucrecia's face was dimly lit by the fireplace light, and she was looking up at him adoringly.
She laughed, "Why that face?"
"...Say it again."
"I love you."
He pulled her closer to him, kissing her on the neck, "Again..."
"I love you. Do you love me?"
"Yes..." Hojo looked at her eyes, "I love you...I've never said it to anyone before, not even my family. And you're the first person...to say it to me."
"Oh..." Lucrecia's brow furrowed, but then softened, "then I'll never forget to say it to you. Every day, if necessary. I'll never stop loving you."
"Do you really mean that?"
"With all my heart! Why would you think I wouldn't mean it? It is because of...your family?"
Hojo didn't respond, and Lucrecia took that as a positive answer.
"Well..." she continued, "don't doubt that I love you. Never doubt it; not for one moment."
"I won't."