Chapter Thirty-Five: First Class Catastrophe

When lunch hour came, Zack made his way to the small restaurant that was Shinra's most reliable establishment, meaning that it didn't serve food out of a vending machine. He sat at a table, collapsing on one chair and draping his feet across another. Drumming his fingers on the table, he waited for one of the nearby waitresses to take his order. It took a moment longer than usual; the women were involved in their conversation. He took a moment to enjoy the classic white, black, and silver checkered décor, but soon became bored by it.

A girl with flaming red hair trimmed at her ears finally decided to attend to him. "Can I help you?" she asked, handing him a menu, which he returned. He wasn't here for food.

"Yes. I'm looking for a friend of mine. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and is a little shorter than you are. Know of anyone?" He flashed a dazzling smile. He knew it wasn't much to go on, but it was all he had gleaned from his glimpse in Sephiroth's office earlier that morning. That, and a black uniform and white apron that made him believe she must work here.

"Sir, there are hundreds of girls in Shinra that…"

She was interrupted by a loud crash, followed immediately by the sound of glass falling and shattering. A shrill cry sounded, though Zack was relieved to realize that it seemed to be more out of surprise than actual pain. The waitress slammed the menu down on Zack's table angrily. "Aralyn!" she shrieked.

The woman was sprawled out on her back, shards of porcelain and glass sprinkled around her, a server's tray abandoned near her head. Her eyes were hazy, and she seemed confused and disoriented. "Aralyn!" the red headed server screamed again. "Can't you do anything right? I just had to get a new set from the last time this happened!"

Zack stepped in, deftly maneuvering so he was between the waitress and the woman on the floor. "She may be hurt, and all you can care about are a few dishes?" Zack waved her away. The waitress's cheeks flamed, and she pivoted and walked away haughtily, huffing incoherently as she left.

Zack turned to the woman, kneeling beside her and offering a hand. He smiled warmly and kept his tone light. "Hey, you need a hand there? Your name's Aralyn, right? I'm Zack Fair. Soldier, second class."

He gripped her hand firmly and pulled her up. She wavered, clutching her free hand to her head and moaning softly. "Hit your head?" Zack asked, supporting her and helping her to her feet. "Quite a fall you took. Could have been worse, though. You're lucky."

As her golden hair fell away from her face, his eyes widened. "Wait, you're Sephiroth's…" he stopped abruptly.

Aralyn frantically gestured for him to stop talking. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Fair. Thanks for the hand."

"Hey, if I'm the only one with the decency to help, this place has got some issues."

"Aralyn!" the waitress's shrill voice called. "Get in here! Break's not for another hour!"

"I have to go," she said apologetically. "Please don't tell anyone about…us. He wants it to be a secret."

Zack dragged two fingers across his lips and then tossed an imaginary key over his shoulder. "I will see you again, maybe after I file a complaint for that waitress. Has she always treated you this way?"

"It's nothing, really," she insisted, beginning to gather the shards with a broom.

"Is Sephiroth aware of how you are being treated?"

Aralyn shook her head. "It's good for the waitress that he doesn't." She smiled wryly. "I might not have a manager the next day."

"Oh, you'd have her, but she'd be missing a few vital body parts and come to work in a particularly small cardboard box."

Aralyn smiled, chuckling politely. He laughed along with her, then lightly clapped her on the arm and winked. "Catch you later, Aralyn."

She smiled and returned to her work. "Wait!" she called, looking up. "You'll see Sephiroth later, won't you?"

"I could run into him, why?"

She smiled, sadly. "Could you just…tell him I said hello?"

Zack nodded. "Will do."