Afternoon fellow beloved FF7 fans!
I hope the new chapter gets received as well as the others have been and thanks for the support! You may have to excuse me if the next one takes a few days longer to arrive, I have FF-type 0 and FF15 demo arriving today (so hype!) as well as another chapter of Life Is Strange to play and ALSO I have begun my first ever fully fledged FF collection! I've wanted one for sooo many years and I am now kicking it off with a non-Turk Vincent, Tidus, AC Cloud and Serah (*hearts Serah Farron*) figurines along with some display gaming guides from FFV, VI, VII, Crisis Core, VIII, X, X-2, XIII, XIII-2 and much more to come!
Oh shit… I've officially become a nerd…
Anyway massive pointless ramble aside:
CatXAngel: Sincere thank you for the compliment about my writing and the review. I will strive to deliver the best Sephiroth X Aerith I can! So excited!
Ocena Strex: The teen peer pressure/hormones, Genesis' over dramatic superiority complex, the unfair life that Aerith lives and the bit you said about Seph. You point out all the awesome bits of each chapter that gives me such drive and confidence knowing the story is being received as hoped. Thanks buddy!
Chrono: Glad you enjoy mate, hope I don't make the repercussions of sneaky Gen too angsty for you.
Turk4Life / The great philosopher and queen of comedy AKA Moosh: Your reviews are NEVER lacklustre, far from and I have read ScribeOfRhapsody's fic so the fact that you look forward to my fic next to a writer like Scribe and among all the other awesome writers in this fandom is enough to make me want to climb on my desk at work right now and dance. (Yes I am writing this at work lolz! Come at me boss! I ain't scared'a you :D!) Reading your review again I have the overwhelming urge to PM you :D
On with the fic!
Switching from inhaling through his nose to his mouth, Sephiroth marched into the Shinra science department for his Wednesday appointment with a professor he would gladly watch get skinned alive. Nothing had changed, the sterile blend of chemicals and powerful cleaning fluids was still the smell of his childhood that he detested more than any other on this planet. No one but him would know that though, he hid every trace of his discomfort behind a murderous expression that never failed to clear the laboratory vermin from his path.
He didn't wait in the reception anymore like he did when he was a boy, he refused to wait like some lap dog until Hojo was ready to collect him. These unavoidable encounters would be conducted on his watch, on his terms and at his convenience.
Viciously throwing open the door to Hojo's personal surgery, the repulsive pointy-nosed creature was expectantly awaiting his arrival along with two trusty scientists who were probably there to act as back-up and potential witnesses. The notion was laughable, in the event that he did lose his mind and decide to act on his inner desires, not a single scientist on this floor would be left to tell the tale.
"Ahhh my boy. Come in! Come in!"
Sephiroth was already in the room, his long black leather coat discarded onto the steel table in the center of the room which he took a stoic seat upon.
"Splendid. Splendid! As I am sure you are aware we have been permitted to begin your next level of enhancements, simply marvellous! At long last we can begin transforming you from the worthless weakling that fool Shinra has kept you down as!"
Hojo's bent over form circled the table with a greedy look on his beady face. It had only taken six seconds for the scientist to insult him this time, not a record by any means.
"Now there will be no limits to the things we can do! There will be no limits to the power that will be achieved. Yes… oh yes, yes! The legacy of my genius from this moment on will truly become everlasting"
Sephiroth kept his eyes straight forward with disinterest, not allowing the lunatics words to have any kind of impact on him and keeping his mind focused on the true purpose of what he hoped to get out of this session. Ever since Aerith's distressed outburst the day before, the subject of fulfilling her request had been on his mind constantly since.
"Still not talking boy!?" Hojo snapped in aggravation when Sephiroth continued to pay the man no heed, "well if you have such little need for your tongue then perhaps I should remove it? What do you think about that!?"
The professors pathetic empty threats didn't bother him, the only thing he cared about when it came to Hojo was how he was going to keep a close eye on the maniac and any plans he had for Aerith now she was becoming of age from half way around the world.
"Hmmmm" Hojo crooned after studying him for a long time, then the man began cackling, an annoyingly nasal laugh that escalated until the man's shoulders were shaking up and down vigorously. "Well we will see how quiet you are in three weeks from now boy! Not very quiet I should imagine! NOT VERY QUIET AT ALL! EEEEHEEHEEHEEHAAHAAAA! LET US BEGIN PHASE 1!"
One of the assistants began shuffling away to retrieve the ghastly equipment used to analyze the bodies current physical condition and its capacity to handle Mako while the other kept their face firmly buried behind their clipboard.
"Forget that, skip straight to the debilitation process"
The scrawny professor paused, a rare look of surprise on Hojo's malevolent face.
"What did you say boy?"
"You heard me"
Sephiroth was not ignorant towards the enhancement process. Phase 1 was analysis, a mere safety procedure if anything to assess the patient. Phase 2 was a process nicknamed 'debilitation', a week of daily injections designed to prevent the bodies current enhancements from putting up a defence against the new ones and make the bodies natural cells receptive towards the new S-cells. Phase 3, a week after that, were the Mako injections themselves, the phase where things got ugly.
"You wish for me to receive my enhancements as soon as possible do you not? Then you can begin phase 2 with my consent immediately. On one condition"
Thin dry lips curled into a cold and devious smirk and the professor shuffled the position of his small round spectacles along his harshly shapen nose.
"So you finally decide to find your voice just when you so happen to want something, what a coincidence. I do not think I will oblige you or your insolence!"
Sephiroth disregarded the scientist and his egotistical ranting and continued in an authoritive tone.
"You will allow me to take Aerith down into the city for one evening this Saturday. You will have no interference in the matter and she will be permitted to enjoy the occasion without harassment or animosity of any sort before, during or after the event"
"Absolutely out of the question"
"Then you may not begin the debilitation process"
A muscle twitched in the corner of Hojo's eye and his thin boney hand slammed against the other side of the cold steel table.
"I have patiently awaited this moment for years you presumptuous little shit! I can gladly wait an extra week!"
"If you do not grant me this request you will not begin any phase whatsoever this week or any of the foreseeable weeks to come"
A veil of fury dropped over the professors face which Sephiroth returned with just as hostile and predatory a gaze, making the two other scientists in the room cower away into the far corner.
"That is not a decision you can make boy, you are company property, you cannot refuse the procedure!"
"No I cannot, but I can create an appeal to resist it that the board will be obligated to review. It will inevitably be denied but it will certainly delay the process by a couple of months"
The aghast expression on the detestable man's face and the satisfying sight of Hojo's body as it began to tremble with anger would undoubtedly become his highlight of the year.
"You son of a no good useless fucking whore! You dare to blackmail me!?"
"I do. So what will it be? Debilitation process now or closer to a date that I may be deployed overseas and you shave months off of your invaluable research?"
Sephiroth's eye was held with a heated glare for close to an entire minute until Hojo poorly disguised his simmering rage with a twisted lopsided smirk.
"Your fondness for the ancient is most intriguing. C19 NOW!"
A surgical needle loaded with a generous measuring of amber liquid was passed into Hojo's outstretched hand as quick as lightning.
"But pull another stunt like this again and I will deem your relationship with her 'unhealthy' and see it fit that she is returned to the department where you will be forbidden from being within a hundred feet of her"
And your head will be mounted atop the Shinra building the day you give that a try
Sephiroth remained silent, watching victoriously as the nut case, who thought he was being discreet, spitefully pressed the tip of the needle against the side of the table to blunt it.
"She, like you, is company property, a specimen who's interference with will not be tolerated. You would do well to remember that in the future boy"
His arm was snatched at the wrist by the professor who dug his nails into Sephiroth's flesh as hard as he could while aligning the needle with the underside of his arm.
"Unless of course you want her to get hurt that is"
Hojo stabbed the needle rapidly into the intentionally extra sensitive spot left of his tricep and slammed the plunger. The rough puncturing sensation was sharp but Sephiroth didn't flinch in the slightest, in fact he was trying not to grin despite the dark threat the professor had made and the consequences of the medication entering his system.
Happy birthday Aerith
"Lara always seemed like such a quiet and shy kind of girl, the last thing I was expecting was for her to drop her clothes like that right then and there in my apartment"
Angeal flicked his PHS shut on the timidly worded message of apology from the twenty-three year old beauty in finance he had been sharing a fond working relationship with for the last six months as he left the gym with Genesis after an early morning workout. Yes, despite what most people would believe even SOLDIER's needed to workout to stay in shape.
"Gen are you even listening to me?"
His regular gym partner had been zoning in and out for most of the session and no matter how many times he asked, Genesis kept denying that he was. Needless to say with his spotter drifting into long stretches of deep thoughtful daydreams, Angeal didn't attempt any personal records in the gym today.
"Genesis!"
"…? Yes you took her clothes off, I heard you… woohoo"
"I didn't say that. Hey don't you go spreading that I did that!"
Genesis grinned and returned to the land of the living.
"Angeal, that you might have undressed a woman is not the type of rumour you should be so eager to resist. So to clarify, little miss accountancy bared all and you and her did NOT... 'get it on'?"
"No we didn't!"
"And why not?"
Angeal bashfully eyed the younger SOLDIER who somehow still managed to look immaculately dressed in a sleeveless tank and gym trousers.
"If you are about to say honor, I shall throw myself upon my own sword"
"She had been drinking! A lot! That's not honor, that's just decency!"
"Sounds gay to me" Genesis mumbled quietly so the first class prude wouldn't hear him.
"I don't know why she felt the need to drink so much to be able to make a move, I always thought I was pretty approachable"
Genesis shook his head to himself at the doubt-filled expression his clueless raven haired colleague pitifully wielded.
"I am going to give it to you straight Angeal"
"Please don't"
"You are a top ranking SOLDIER who is so afraid of communicating romantic feelings in the fear of causing perversion and being seen as anything less than respectable that many would question if you harbour an interest in the opposite sex at all. You have been working with this female, who you should note, blushes without fail every time you so much as look at her for countless painful months now on a far more intimate level than what can be classed as 'strictly work related'. Yet despite all of this you have failed to act upon the rather obvious fact that she likes you and have sent no clear message to express an interest of your own. Not to mention you outweigh the girl by about 150 pounds and possess a somewhat harsh and unrefined exterior that could be perceived as intimidating. And you don't read Loveless. I would say her reservations are rather just"
"How is me not reading poxy Loveless a fault!?"
"Not reading Loveless is always a fault"
"Yes thank you Gen…"
"In fact you have been so hopelessly naïve throughout this whole affair that it would be justified to say that you are nothing shy of 'completely romantically incompetent going on retarded' and the only reason people do not notice this is because you have just so happened to befriend Sephiroth. The one person on Gaia who is so incredibly inept in the ways of courtship that he makes you look like a pimp from the honey-bee inn"
Genesis raised a single eyebrow at Angeal for trying to give him a stern look as they made their towards their respectively located offices and showers.
"You know I'm right"
Angeal frowned, "Ok then. If you're such an expert how come I'm not seeing any ladies hanging off of YOUR arm?"
Genesis flippantly pushed back a section of his hair.
"I like to believe I have transcended such base desires"
"Oh really?"
"Yes really"
A mini sidelong stare-off ensued between the pair as they came to their departing junction.
Eventually Angeal broke first and laughed and even though he was being perfectly serious, Genesis followed suit.
"You never fail to amuse Gen. Well I'll be facing the awkward music with Lara later at an apartment expenses meeting, I'll see if I am able to act a little less 'incompetent' or 'retarded' this time"
Doubtful
Genesis chuckled.
"Anyway I gotta bounce, I have to teach a class of thirty kids how to hold a rifle properly"
Angeal tapped the side of a closed fist against Genesis' chest and left in the other direction. The crimson SOLDIER held his hand up in farewell.
"You have my deepest sympathies friend... Oh! And be sure that my refurbishment plans are brought to the forefront of the agenda in today's meeting!"
The back of Angeal's hand was thrown up idly as the thickly built SOLDIER made his exit.
"You're not getting a pool Gen"
Genesis pouted.
What about the ground level arts...?
"Or the art gallery"
Genesis flapped his arms wildly.
Why did he never seem to get his own way!?
Agitated he head towards his own office that was disgracefully smaller than Sephiroth's. To think he had turned down a destined career of being the worlds most distinguished actor for this crap.
Speaking of crap, he still had to figure out a way to handle the troublesome situation that infernal Shalua Rui woman had placed him in.
Just as it had been for the majority of the day and last night, his mind zoned out into thinking about the doctor potentially turned AVALANCHE terrorist for the one-millionth time. The fact he had not blown the whistle on her already was putting his career on the line and every minute that passed that he didn't he was incriminating himself further so he had to make a decision fast.
It wasn't that he was unsure whether or not to report it, he was going to expose the doctor there was no question about it, she was working with a very nasty enemy that he had personally had to deal with on many missions. The only question was did he want to do it anonymously and avoid having to awkwardly explain how he came about the information? Or openly report the crime and have a chance at being rewarded? Shinra were pretty generous when it came to whistle blowing on company traitors. Perhaps he could even bargain his apartment refurb and a bigger office than Sephiroth for the dirt he had on Shalua?
He didn't need to think about it any longer.
Sorry Miss Rui, it's a dog eat dog world and you my dear have just been devoured.
Mind made up Genesis stepped into the lift to ascend nine levels, something you seemed to spend half your day doing when you worked within the Shinra building. He had hardly taken two steps into the confined box when rather unexpectedly his back was roughly forced the rest of the way into the elevator, his absent mindedness taking his natural vigilance down for long enough to be caught off-guard.
Whirling around Genesis smirked to see long legs in stockings, another very classy skirt matched with a modestly fitted blouse that gave a better-than-lab-coat view of surprisingly large breasts, strawberry blonde hair and teal green eyes... angry teal green eyes.
Genesis kept the shock of seeing the very woman he had just been thinking about and his confusion on why she had assaulted him and was so glaringly obviously pissed off from showing. The elevators doors closed and Shalua Rui hit the emergency brakes button to keep them that way, then she rounded herself on him.
"You know we should stop meeting like this..."
The front of his gym vest was grabbed by two small but surprisingly strong hands that tried to push him into the back wall but Genesis was ready for her this time and there was no possible way the female would be able to budge him.
"Don't get cute with me! Why the hell were you in my office yesterday!?"
Holy crap, how in the divine name of the Goddess did she find out it was him!? Just play it cool
"I don't know what you mean"
"Don't lie!" she barked furiously, yanking on his scant early morning clothing hard and nearly tearing it.
It was just his luck to get intercepted while under dressed in a top that exposed half his torso, especially when pulled on by a member of the opposite sex who had clearly gone insane. Oh well at least he was still pumped from the gym so he looked good.
Amusingly Miss Rui seemed to notice it to as she looked down and flushed.
"... wh-what are you... wearing?" she shook her head dramatically and growled. "Forget that! I know it was you who snuck into my office and broke into my desk! Why did you do it!?"
Genesis chuckled, the young doctor had one of those easy-on-the-eye faces with a light complexion and delicate features that only served to make her look cuter when she got mad. Unphased and deciding this was not going to be a repeat of the other day in which she verbally butchered him and he simply took it, Genesis grabbed both of the girls wrists with one hand, making her gasp in alarm as he swiftly reversed their positions and effortlessly pinned her hands overhead against the back wall at arm's length.
"Did no one ever tell you that you should keep your hands to yourself?"
Releasing a modicum of heat into his restraining hand, Genesis revelled in the slight widening of the surprised woman's eyes who was being forced up onto her tip-toes.
"Now, do pray tell as I am curious, how is it that you 'know' it was me who supposedly broke into your office?"
She swallowed and answered shakily.
"Because I asked around and three people said they saw you wondering the prosthetics wing"
Bugger. The curse of having such an above average and unforgettable appearance
"And how does my presence in an area that is openly accessible to all employees incriminate me exactly?" he asked coolly.
His intimidation wore off and the curvy young woman began getting feisty again as she thrashed about for a moment but quickly realized she wasn't going anywhere soon under his unrelenting grip.
"Well?"
"Because last I checked you didn't have any bits missing or any reason to be over there! Something that will change very soon if you don't let me go!"
Cute
Genesis squeezed her wrists tighter making a short whine escape the woman's throat.
"How do you know I wasn't simply visiting a friend?"
"Why are you doing this!? I know it was you so stop messing about!... please" Shalua's voice trailed off into a whimper.
Knowing the game was up and the effort that it would take to keep the act going, Genesis gave in. It didn't matter if she knew anyway, there was nothing she could do about it now he had her trapped.
"Fine, so it was me"
"WHY!?"
"I went into your precious bloody office to return the papers you selfishly left strewn across the floor of course. You weren't in so I decided to return them to a drawer rather than somewhere they could be seen in the interests of confidentiality and broke your lock, accidentally I might add..."
Ok, so it wasn't the total truth, but it was close enough.
"...and yes, before you ask, I did find that rather intriguing little file of yours"
Shalua's expression dropped, all the fight and tension leaving her body.
"And did you read it?" she squeaked pleadingly.
Genesis nodded
"… all of it?"
"Enough to know that you hid from the company that Shelke was no normal child and that you have been exchanging information with terrorists"
Tears formed in the young woman's eyes behind thin panes of glass, a look of defeat and despair contorting her face as she lowered her gaze to the floor.
"So you do know"
"Yes I do"
His captive hung there, wordlessly taking in the gravity of the situation with a look of shame that he wasn't sure was whether it was because she had been caught or the way things had come to him holding her body in such a undignified stretched out position as this.
"… please let go of me" Shalua whispered softly, hiding her face behind a screen of her hair.
"Are you going to keep your hands to yourself?"
She nodded meekly.
Genesis released his grip and the tearful girl dropped down onto her heels, immediately caressing her wrists to the centre of her body.
A moment of silence fell between them and Genesis took a distancing step away while Shalua folded her arms across her downcast form, looking just about the most pitiful sight he had ever seen.
"So… what are you going to do?"
"What I have to" he replied flatly.
Her head dropped lower, disguising her face further from his view and even though he couldn't see them, Genesis could tell from her voice that she was in tears.
"… look... I know that I have no right to ask anything of you, especially after the way I spoke to you the other day"
"Oh so you remember that do you?" Genesis remarked sternly.
"I do... and I wanted to find you and apologise... for calling you a jerk... and for saying SOLDIER's were all heartless bastards... I wasn't myself! I'm not like that... I haven't been myself in such a long time"
He folded his arms, "Pfff, sure you did"
"It's true... but you can choose not to believe me if you want, it doesn't matter. All I ask is you come to my office later and give me the chance to explain everything"
Shalua walked passed him without making eye contact and pressed the brake button again to undo the door.
"You mean the chance to run"
She tilted her head to half look back at him.
"I'm many things but I'm not stupid, we both know that I wouldn't make it far… but perhaps this will help"
She handed him her keycard, the only way she would be able to get off the plate this side of the next twenty-four hours.
"And you're right, what you said. Shelke isn't a normal child, but my sister... my baby sister isn't dead either I just know it... and I'll show you why I believe it. If after I've told you everything you still want to hand me in, I promise I'll go without argument"
Whether it was his curiosity to find out more, his certainty that she possessed no immediate threat and couldn't escape or the voice of Aerith in his head telling him that every person deserved a chance, he nodded.
"Very well"
Shalua minutely bowed her head in response, squeezing her eyes shut with relief.
"Thank you… Genesis"
An unpleasant shiver ran down his spine which he grounded by clenching his fists.
"Pah!… don't thank me. I'm only doing it because I'm bored and dealing with you myself before I hand you over will pass some time and provide me with a small degree of entertainment"
The junior doctor flinched, then she gave the tiniest of nods and from behind the veil of reddish-orange hair two visible tears fell from her chin as she left.
Genesis dismissed the wretched sight from his mind with haste, empathy and sympathy were not afflictions he would allow himself, the future crimson commander of the company to be burdened with. His job demanded it, he had to remain cold and detached from matters whenever duty was involved. He had even killed people during his career in SOLDIER and he had done it with ease.
But still, he couldn't deny this situation with the female doctor brought him discomfort. There was something about holding a person's life in his hands at the edge of a sword that felt so very different to the way he currently held Shalua Rui's...
... and in all honesty the sword seemed far more appealing right now.
