A/N: God, this took a while… and it's amazingly fluffy. And PLEEEAAASE don't go thinking that the OC's are Mary-Sue. Alicia's not even my OC. They're not perfect and not everyone loves them. Pretty soon they'll develop her own little groups of haters. Well… one or two. And they've got to make some pretty hard decisions. Later on. Just a warning.

Rage over.

… Anyway, this is:

Chapter 4: Kicking Around the Future

"Alicia?"

Alicia turned round through the mess of blonde curly hair and up at a face she hadn't planned on seeing for a long time. Still as lean, though more stern, and she caught her first glimpse of Mako enhanced eyes hard-set into someone's face she never wanted to take that route.
"Angeal?" She gasped. They stared at each other for a few seconds ,as if unbelieving of each other's existence, then Angeal tackled Alicia into his chest and wrapped his arms tightly around her torso. The impact alone winded her.

"I'm so happy you're well Alicia!" He said in her ear, though his words were muffled by the shoulder he'd buried his face in. Once he'd let go of her, Alicia began to compose herself again before keeling over and clutching her stomach. Angeal let out a deep, hearty laugh and slapped her harshly on the back before leaving past her to her right. Alicia sighed ungratefully in memory of her limited days in Banora; back when people cared about her.

She looked up again at the training room as a tall Wutaian strolled through a door nearby. Alicia could tell in an instant that he was a Turk. He gave a nod and walked immediately away. Alicia was suddenly curious. Why did he nod? How did he know who he was? Or did he? She rushed to the door the man had came out of and looked in the direction he'd left in. Nothing. Alicia sighed and turned back towards the huge window into the training room, looking over the 3rd class SOLDIERs as they fumbled uselessly with their swords. Their mentor seemed strangely familiar. Something about his red trench coat reminded her of home. Alicia removed her gaze and moved swiftly on to her new workplace.

"So, brother." Rufus began, taking a seat in his leather chair and observing his sibling's every move on the other side of his desk. Lazard rose and eyebrow and continued to fiddle idly with a button on his shirt.

"How is your little medic doing?" He asked, smirking as his brother's face turned suddenly attentive. Lazard turned his gaze towards the floor.
"I haven't heard much from Alicia since she got here, she's not-"
"First name basis?" Rufus grinned. Lazard frowned at his comment and finished his statement.
"She's not the most talkative person."

Rufus nodded. " Well, I'm sure she'd talk to Salvatrice." Rufus sighed. Lazard smiled at his brother. Oh Lord. Lazard thought; Totally, completely, and utterly infatuated.

After a long silence only broken by the shuffling of papers, Rufus looked up at his brother again.
"What are you doing on Friday?" He asked. The spontaneous comment caught Lazard off guard and he stuttered.

"I, uh- Nothing. I think. Why?" He asked, confused and curious at what his brother was trying to persuade him into doing for him. Rufus would always do this. 'Lazard, could you send your SOLDIERs to Wutai for me?' , 'Lazard, could you attend an extremely boring meeting for me while I shuffle books around my desk?', 'Lazard, could you run through that blizzard to get me some Doritos?'. The Director had just about had enough, so as of now, he was being more cautious. Rufus ran a hand through his hair.

"No reason. Just… wondering." Rufus lied. Lazard rose silently and left the room, shutting the door with a soft 'clink' and walking back to his office. Well, it was an office. It wasn't his. There were a few Turks strolling unnervingly calmly through the corridor as Lazard passed by Alicia's office, and he waited for them to have left before doubling back on himself to knock on her door. Before his hand even met the lacquered plywood the door opened.

Alicia ran straight into Lazard's chest, smacking into him at a moderate speed and throwing papers and folders everywhere. They loose sheets flew in every possible direction and Alicia was quick to apologize as she slipped out of Lazard's arms to round up her work. The Director stood there bewildered before helping to pick up the paper.

Alicia turned to her right to pick a folder up from the ground and a heavy black boot clamped it to the floor. Helplessly, she looked up past the baggy pants and flowing red leather trench coat to another not-too-recognizable friendly face, the same mako blue eyes as everyone else set deep into his face. In the time they'd spent away from each other his features had become sharper, although his smirk remained on his crescent lips as though he were born with it. And even now, 10 years from their last interaction, he was still looking down on her. It seemed as though they'd never be equal. Genesis Rhapsodos. The biggest douchebag Alicia had ever known.