A Spectroscope-
Chapter 1: Visual Enchantment
Sephiroth was always early to
his engagements where it was Shinra related or personal. This assured him that
he would be prompted and easier to catch the gossip that went around before
everyone feel into social or business mode that often went unsaid during
meetings and briefings- Sometimes the information that was whispered beforehand
is more useful then the meeting itself. While he himself was not one to gossip
or part take of idle chatter, he did listen what others had to say, even if the
party did not know he was listening.
The platinum hair General was
strongest of warriors and his battlefield tactics went unquestioned, but it was
his political ascension that often impressed the Shinra executives more. Due to
this, Sephiroth found himself with more power then Heidegger
when it came to decisions of what course of actions should be taken militarily.
Needless to say this was not pleasing to Heidegger of
late, but Sephiroth really didn’t care.
Why Sephiroth was arriving at
his destination now earlier then his normal ‘early’ arrivals was not to help
his political standing, but to make sure himself and the waiting party were
going to be on time. Why? Due to a brief lapse of judgment, the silver hair
General agreed to go a purely social engagement with his best friend, Zack
Yes, Zack was the reason he
why he was early early. His second in command was
notorious for being late, even for some missions. So, for his best friend’ sake
and well as his own flawless record, Sephiroth was going to make sure they were
at least on time to whatever they were going. Silently he prayed to Planet it
wasn’t going to be a strip club, like the ones he heard from Zack’s stories.
That was the last place he wanted to be spotted at.
Sighing, the General halted
his march outside SOLDIER Single Residential Unit #17. With a rare ungloved
hand, the SOLDIER Commander knocked on the heavily worn oak door. Placing his
hands in his dress slacks, Sephiroth waited and listened to the stumbling of
his friend behind the door. Smiling crookedly when he heard an oath cursed,
Sephiroth took a step back just as the door flew open and spiky hair man
tumbled through the doorway.
“Sup, Sephiroth! You’re here
early and dressed for a funeral,” exclaimed Zack rather sheepishly as he ran a
hand through his black hair.
“Humph. I am merely making
sure we are prompt for this social gathering of yours.” The older male ignored
the jab at his all black outfit.
“Yeah, yeah. Come in, I need to finish dressing. Ya almost caught me with my pants off.” The bare-chested
SOLDIER beckoned his commander into the surprisingly clean apartment. “No wise cracks, had to have it clean for Heideggar’s
stupid monthly inspection.”
Shaking his head and giving
Zack an amused look, Sephiroth entered and lead the way to the living room. As
his friend went off to finish dressing, and hopefully brush his hair, the guest
looked about the room to see if Zack had made any attempts to make the suit classier.
Through his scrutinizing inspection, Sephiroth found himself
immediately fixated on a poster that hung over the forest green couch- a very
striking and stirring poster at that.
It was of a woman of rare and
true beauty merely sitting sky clad admits of a deep forest. A silken gauze
mask of mint, silver, and dusty orange poorly obscured her heart shaped face,
while the woman’s cupid bow lips had a small thoughtful reserve look to them.
Milky white arms that glowed against the dark of the forest setting wrapped
around knees that connect to long, smooth legs with ankles tied with ribbons of
mint that seemed to change the look of reserve to that one of distant sadness
upon further inspection.
But what had the General in
true thrall was not the expression of her face, the way her body was position
that hinted innocence and sorrow, nor the deep golden highlights in those
silken mahogany tresses. No, it was the emerald orbs that were her eyes that
handled forbidden depths that seemed to whisper in his ear: ‘I have a secret
that no one must know. No one must see the pain this secrets
causes me. But, tell me, do you dare… Dare to even catch a fragile glimpse of
this secret. Do you?’
His breath hitched slightly as
the General felt the room slightly tilt then.
Velvet hands seemed to cup
his face, as a silver voice of a passion’s song breathed into his ear, “Do you
dare? Would you attempt what others cannot? Are you… like me?”
What… What was wrong with this
poster?
‘I am slowly falling and I
can’t seem to stop. Help me.’
An earth-shattering scream
echoed in the depths of his soul.
“Hey!” Rough hands grasped his
shoulders and seemed and shake him free from the disorientating summons. “Hey,
Sephiroth, you okay buddy?”
Blinking shimmering ice-mint
eyes, the SOLDIER Commander finally forced himself to look at his best friend’s
face for a point of stability- and found it. Swallowing thickly, he heard
himself muttered distantly, “It is a beautiful poster, but I can not help
dislike it… It is very… unsettling.”
Dark rum color eyes looked
puzzled, but then turned to see where Sephiroth look and the confusion cleared.
Zack grinned ruefully and replied, “You’re not the only one who thinks that. A
lot of people seem to get all jumpy, though I don’t see why. Maybe she put a
spell on it.”
Frowning now, Sephiroth
demanded, “What do you mean? Who?”
“The person
who gave me the poster.” The shorter male traced the words ‘Definition of Diva’ in silver
script on the bottom of the enchanted thing. “Aerith- the lead singer of Synthetic Blade. Heh. She
seems magical enough.”
Arching an eyebrow as he saw a
dreamy look cross Zack’s face, he cleared his throat. “Well, you’re dress,
let’s go.”
“Not going to ask where we’re
going?”
“Not to a strip bar.”
A rueful
laugh, “Nah. We’re
going to a concert, so let’s go if we’re gonna be
able to get in and to our seats in time for the show.”
“Eh?”
“I got us front row tickets to
the ‘Returned Home’ concert of Synthetic Blade.” Zack gave him the thumbs up as
they left the apartment. “Trust me, that’s why we’re leaving 2 hours early-
it’s gonna be fucking nuts out there. EVERYONE is
going to attempt to get in, even without tickets.”
“Courteous of this… Aerith.”
The named rolled off Sephiroth’s tongue like silk over steel. “How kind of
her…”
Jabbing the other male in the
ribs playfully as the elevator they entered descended, Lt. Buster retorted,
“you may not have noticed, but I’ve been… seeing Aerith.
Met her at a underground party.” A
soft smile. “She’s very vibrant and a wonderful girl.”
“My, my,
Zack. Has the almighty
ladies’ man finally fallen, dare I suggest, in love?” Came
a haughty mockery in recourse.
Placing hands in his cargo’s
pockets, the unruly SOLDIER grinned brightly, “maybe. About
damn time, too. Maybe it’s a sign you’re next, my icily gorgeous bodied
SOLDIER sex god.”
Giving Zack a withering look
of brief disgust, he snarled, “Emotions such as love are for the weak. I only
pray now that you won’t lose the rest of your senses and become a complete
idiot.”
Surprised at the harshness of
his senior’s reply, Zack attempted to soften the mood again as they exited the
Residential area and made their way to parking garage. “You mean I’m an
incomplete idiot.”
Mako bright eyes narrowed.
“Where is the concert at?”
“Midgar
Dome.” Silence for
moments as they made their way to a sleek ebony Shelby
GT, the General’s prized muscle car. “Sephiroth,
buddy, sorry. Didn’t mean to… upset you.”
As he unlocked the doors, the
male replied, “It is over with, Zack. Come on; let’s get to this concert of
yours. I take it from the way you’re dressed, however, it is not to be the only
entertainment tonight?”
Buckling his seat belt quickly
after he got into the car, Zack chuckled, “caught me. Yeah, we’re gonna go to an Underground Party.
Once more Sephiroth cursed
himself for that brief lapse in judgment causing him to promise to go out
tonight with his friend. But as the wheels of his car squealed as they flew
from the garage over posted speed limits, Fate’s Wheel also began to turn.
Slowly, the red strings began to wrap tightly together as each full circle it
completed.
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Author’s Notes:
I know, SHORT chapter. –sob- However, they’ll get longer as story moves on. If
you’re wondering what I think you’re wondering- yes, this is the newer and less
rushed version of Spectroscope. I know this chapter seems rushed, but I tried
to slow it down. –kicks self- Why am I such a rushy and crappy writer? -cries-
Anyhow, next chapter should soon follow in about a week or so after this one,
pending my work schedule with school.
~Akira