Disclaimer:
– I do not own Final Fantasy VII or its characters. 'Cause if I did… teheee… XD
Warnings:
– Although I like pervy things this is just a little friendship story with a weird Female OC thanks to Akia.
– Also it's the first time I'm writing something in English (Akia don't understand Portuguese and I know nothing in her idiom as well) and I have no English BETA, so I hope you can forgive me for all the mistakes I'll probably make. And if any of you could help me pointing them please do. Thank you! =D
Pairings:
– No pairings…maybe on another fanfic my friends! =)
Sumary:
– A weird Turk and a serious Soldier 1º Class were sent to collect samples inside a mysterious and dangerous place. But as long as he follows her instructions they'll be alright.
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They went back through the same path in the valley, and felt like there was an inconvenient heaviness pulling their legs to the ground as they left the Gravity Loss area heading up the Canyon's light longer track and the rock passageway reaching the small town by the end of sunset. And the sensation of a weathering world warned them about the weakening effects of the long taken colors' enhancing substance.
The streets were almost empty already.
Once into their base Minami excused herself quickly taking the samples to an isolated space and shutting the door with the two scientists and a couple of assistants inside. Sephiroth was guided to a new room in the second floor much larger than the previous one he had been at that morning. And though the walls seemed to be rather aged for the yellowing landscape paintings and old-fashioned raised decorations the furniture and other objects filling it were completely new.
There was a comfortable single bed a little larger than the usual types; a two-seater leather couch with a center table in front of it, another normal sized table with two chairs, one dark wooden closet, a writing desk and a bookshelf.
Many books were brought to prevent him of a possible boredom. And taking a better look at them they varied in genre topics like science, geography, geology, poetry, comedy, drama and many others. Shinra seemed to be quite careful on installing him.
Dinner was brought to his room by someone, not a scientist or an assistant, little after his arrival. He also was given a note saying 'You may not feel hungry but I strongly advise you to eat right now'. And strange as it was he wasn't hungry even after a whole day without food, save for breakfast and a few milk vials drank before leaving. However he did as he was told.
When finished the Soldier took a quick bath, dressed light sleeping clothes he found already inside the closet, did a little other night chores and went for the shelf choosing to read a book he's never seen containing a group of little myth tales before going to sleep.
Sleep was something proven to be impossible. And apparently there was no reason why. A new book was even chosen. A boring one at that but it didn't work. He was still feeling sleepless.
Not only that… He felt disturbed. All that silence instead of providing a peaceful rest it was in fact giving him the perfect environment to keep wondering. The boring drama story was offering enough material for him to space out not really paying attention to the plot. The same situation went on and on for hours into the advancing night. Could it be any side effect of those substances? Anyway he was tired of trying.
As a result, the Soldier decided to get up and do something. Maybe a little night walk could be helpful. So he dressed up his uniform, but the armor parts, and left his room.
The night breeze felt quite nice as he passed the front doorstep. Also the village's silent-as-a-tomb view was not unpleasant although it looked the most somber. Almost like a graveyard under the moon's light. Now he had to decide which way to take. The streets going into the town's center or the wide open camp right beside the house.
The open camp seemed to be a better choice. The lightly illuminated grass moving in harmony with the gentle wind appeared to be rather inviting. However after he'd given few steps on that way the young man suddenly felt like being the target of a curious gaze.
'A villager, perhaps…' Sephiroth thought calmly looking to his sides then to his back but he spotted no one.
Either way that gaze was still present. But where? He wondered before he felt the owner's presence… A presence he have never sensed until that moment. Coming from an angle behind and above his head. So he turned around and looked up.
And there it was. Sitting on the old roof's tiles from the base house. He promptly recognized the blue color his Mako enhanced vision just located. That was the Turk's presence. She deliberately let him know.
Minami's head was slightly tilted to one side and a little frown seemed to be saying 'Shouldn't you be sleeping?' But it looked like someone else was in the same situation.
The young man then, for some reason, decided to leave the walking idea aside and hoped quietly landing on the lightly inclined roof. He sat down to also stare into the dark woods afar. The silence went on for a little while.
"You can't sleep." She evenly affirmed.
"Same as you." He muttered after few seconds.
"Not really… It's not sleeping day yet."
Sephiroth just side glanced at her, as if waiting to know what it meant.
"I don't sleep much. And I also have no patience to go to bed to sleep only close to 1 hour… So I stay awake the whole week save for 8 hours on Sundays." There was no reaction to that but she felt a little disbelieving gaze coming her way. "Found myself a bizarre person to work with, you might be thinking."
He wouldn't call it bizarre though it was indeed a little strange. Humans had the need to sleep at least 8 hours a day to recover their energy.
"But it's not bad at all." The girl chuckled. "I use the extra time in the Laboratory or helping to train the newcomers or doing overtime on the Turks' floor and getting the largest paycheck in the department…"
How not to laugh at that the silver haired wondered as he felt an imperceptible smile brought to his face. He always thought not to have a sense of humor.
"By the way." The voice sounded quite serious. "We're not going back there today."
This time the Soldier finally turned his head to face her.
"You could not sleep. Not a good sign." The answer was quick. "You feel bothered because of what you experienced in that cave, right?" She waited but there was no answer whatsoever. "What I experienced this time is still fixed inside my head as well. Even though I tried to distract ourselves my mind got severely affected. The magnetism might be upon us, yet."
So that never-ending talk had a major purpose. And indeed the Soldier could not take his head out of what he felt in that cave.
"A day off for cleaning the brain is reasonable." And then her speech seemed to incorporate a real lazy tone. "A clear mind will lead you to a longer life while a crowded one will bring harm upon you. These elders tend to say it a lot." Then the voice came back to normal. "Something that literally happens in that valley. And believe me it's from that to worse…"
'Worse…' Sephiroth thought wondering what she possibly meant by that word. He's seen many difficult things, especially during the Wutai War. But he was trained to use strength and strategy at that time. And the Valley seemed to be a place where you had always to expect for the unexpected. Not to mention survive in the middle of unknown beasts without enraging them with a mere thought.
Thoughts… they started to fly once more in the middle of the following silence.
"Take your mind off of that place… I'm warning you." Minami suddenly said as if she could read what passed in his head startling him a little.
"How…" He spoke on an impulse rapidly pausing but then deciding to ask anyway for the first time saying more than 5 words in the same sentence when not asked a question. "How did you know I was thinking about that place?"
"What place?" Her side-glance, answer and long pause made him frown again in confusion. "Sorry… I'm just trying to take my mind away from that as well… but I didn't know." Then gave him an understanding nod as she continued. "I just supposed you walked out the same way I did after being there for the first time."
He was ordered to follow her instructions. But being advised not to think…
"Ok, let's do it like this. I help you, you help me." She said getting his attention. "Let's pretend yesterday never happened and start all over again." Then she heavily sighed. "My name is Minami Braon and I hate being called Miss Braon. I'm a Turk from Shinra working on a project Director Lazard modified without my permission… and I hate him for that… what else… ah, ever since the Late Doctor simply died I've been under Tseng's tutelage, he trained me to be a Turk… I also hate that damn black suit…" She muttered while remembering the black haired Turk forcing her to use it. "…I don't know what else to say… Do you have any questions?"
"Is there something you do not hate?" The young man asked lowering his head, unconsciously attempting to hide the amused face with his silvery bangs.
"Pffff!" That was unpredicted. "Don't ask difficult questions." She had to give him that comeback before thinking a little and answering. "I'm fond of high places… I usually go to Shinra's roof…" Then another sigh. "Your turn."
Silence.
"Either that or 'Dream Powder'." The girl warned looking rather serious.
Sephiroth obviously doubted the Turk would try and use the Magic Powder on him. However he had to make an effort not to let his thoughts wander too much or it would somehow put the mission to a waste. He wasn't the talking type at all but perhaps it could change for that small time.
"My name is Sephiroth…" He seriously started. "I'm a Soldier."
Stillness just fell between them again…
"No way…" The lazily annoyed tone retorted to those revelations. "Never heard of…"
Strangely there was a brief male giggle on that roof. And to the young man that kind of felt good. Like some heavy weight was taken off from his shoulders.
Everything went suddenly quiet. Minami seemed to be waiting for a little more words. But the Soldier didn't really want to talk about himself. He thought there was nothing in his life worth mentioning that she did not already know.
"How long you've been a Turk?" He tried again.
"About two years." She answered. "I was fifteen…"
"Rather young." He quietly muttered wondering about Turks' duties. Word was that it wasn't a light career as they had to deal with many unpleasant jobs.
"Same goes for you…" The girl reminded him. "It happens at war times… And since I got useful abilities for the Mako treatments… Even though I had to stop." A little pause. "After Doctor's death something started to go wrong…"
So she didn't have to take the injections anymore. That explained why the Mako Infusion had such hard side effects upon that person, but wasn't enough to poison her system.
"I haven't seen you on Shinra before." The soldier continued looking deep into the dark woods.
"You haven't been to the Turk's floor or the roof or even the Weapons Development Department too much." She evenly answered.
"Weapons Development Department?" A hint of curiosity took the Young man's voice. He had gone there few times.
"To help on testing new weapons…" and another little pause followed as she seemed to think over something. "Sir Veld is against it but Miss Scarlet convinced him someway."
"What kind of weapons do you test?" He asked quite intrigued this time.
"Anything that can equip Materia." She pondered a bit. "I can use those easily…"
"You're quite busy." He concluded in a quiet mutter. For someone her age that was impressive.
"But it's a good thing." And now her tone had little melancholy hidden on it. "Helps not to think about the past or get anxious about the future…"
Future… The Soldier had never really thought about it. Since an early age he had been trained for a kind of future that came too soon. Surely he was the youngest 1º Class Soldier Shinra ever had. And due to his power probably would be a Soldier for long years after. So, his future seemed to be quite easy to predict.
"Also helps not to plan Director Lazard's death every time he sends me on weird missions."
Sephiroth could have laughed at that if he wasn't so accustomed to stay always quiet. Those sarcastic comments were indeed too much to take in.
The night moved on as other little subjects were chosen, mostly by Minami as the quiet Soldier appeared more interested in only listen. Her intonations always waving between serious, a little annoyed or rather sarcastic. The last option proved to be the better parts. And soon they were looking at the coming dawn while hearing little noises from the village as the inhabitants started their morning chores. They usually woke up with the birds so early it was.
That made the girl excuse herself. She had a first day report to complete before some fellow Turks would appear to take them. And also Laboratory duties soon after.
The day went on in a rather boring pace as Sephiroth chose to stay in his room reading, trying to distract his mind. He had not felt like walking again the whole day, but at least at night he could finally have a proper sleep.
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=B