Broken Wimgs - Chapter Two
"Who is she, Gast?"
She felt cold, small fingers brush her arm curiously, carefully avoiding where several needles ran into her arm. The voice was definitely masculine, but was still that of a child's. She couldn't open her eyes, but judging by her voice the little boy was about six or seven, about the same age as her.
"Let her rest, Sephiroth," an older man's voice replied.
The curious hand reluctantly withdrew. "Does she have a name?" The sound of his voice had not dimmed; he had not moved from her side.
"No," came a curt but not unkind reply. "She's not on the records. As far as legal matters go, she doesn't exist."
"Then how'd she get here?"
"Dr. Hojo found her."
The boy fell silent, and the aura around him grew tense with dislike. "So he's going to…"
"Don't worry about her," Gast said it calmly, but with a slight air of disapproval. "And stop fidgeting with her IV. That's keeping her alive, you know."
She could imagine a pout on the boy's face, but he obeyed. "I know."
"It's a good thing she's here, you'll see." A machine started humming a steady, throbbing beat. She winced as she felt something around her arm tightening. "Someone your own age. It's not good for you to be so alone."
"I'm fine here," the boy insisted, as if his pride had been hurt. "I don't need anyone."
Gast laughed lightly. "If you say so, Sephiroth." The tight band was removed and sparks ran down her arm as the blood rushed back into her hand. "She's doing just fine," he said, adjusting a cloth bandage to expose a part of her shoulder. There was a small prick of a needle, but it was quick, and a gentle hand put a soothing liquid on it soon after. "We probably ought to let her rest now."
"Can I stay here?" Sephiroth asked. "I promise I'll be good!
"She won't wake for hours at the earliest," was Gast's firm reply. "And you have somewhere to be."
"Oh." The word was quiet and submissive. The excitement previously in his voice was gone.
"If it will make you feel better," Gast added quickly, "I'll bring you here after your treatment."
"Hojo won't let me," the boy stated simply.
Gast was undeterred. "Let me deal with that humbug. Later, I promise. Say goodbye, now."
Sephiroth's tone was confused. "She's asleep, she can't hear me. What difference would it make?"
"You'd be surprised. She's been fidgeting; perhaps her senses are already intact."
She felt something leap onto the bed beside her, compressing an area in the mattress near her hip. "Bye," Sephiroth said. "Wake up soon." He sounded truly eager and oddly sincere. He touched her hand once more. Despite his denial, she knew that this boy wanted her company.
The weight was removed, and she assumed that Gast had lifted him from her side. "Come on," Gast coaxed. "You'll see her soon."
The door closed on well-oiled hinges, the only sound being the soft click of the lock.