For Honor or Glory

What Do You Want?

Chapter 33

The following morning found a grinning Alex headed toward the room where she would be monitoring the general for the day. She was eager to finish typing up her thesis, but she was even more excited to share the good news. She knew Sephiroth would be happy for her. She had talked about it enough.

When she walked into the room, her smile dimmed when she noticed the man was leaning back with a slight furrow to his brows. Most people wouldn't have thought anything was wrong, but she had spent enough time around him to know that was about the only indication he ever gave that he was irritated.

However, before she could ask what was wrong, he sat up and turned to her with his typical blank face. She didn't like the look of it since it had been some time since he had used it on her. Still, she set her bag down and approached. "How are you feeling this morning? Is something amiss?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "No more than usual."

Alex gave him an unbelieving look that only lessened when his mask finally eased enough for the edges of his lips to tilt up as he continued. "I apologize for not getting the game set up."

She shook her head and waved off his concern as she got out the things she needed to finish the initial exam. "Don't worry about it. I can get it in no time. Let's get this done so we can get started." She shot him a grin as she put on the cuff. Thankfully, he seemed to relax a little once she got started. Whatever was bothering him must not have been as bad as she had imagined.

It was not long before the two of them were seated across the chessboard from each other in concentration. However, Alex was drawn from it when Sephiroth broke the silence. He was still looking at the board, but he was clearly speaking to her. "I understand that you have moved in with Commander Rhapsodos."

Alex utterly lost her train of thought. She fumbled for a response long enough that he finally looked up with that slight furrow between his brows as he continued, "Is that not the case?"

She felt her cheeks burning and wasn't sure exactly how to answer. Still, she had to try. "Well, I never agreed to live with him, but I have been staying there some."

When the general's only response was to furrow his brow a little more and a low hum, she immediately jumped in again, "Why? Is it a problem? Did he need to ask for permission or something? I never thought about that since I was staying with Geal first."

Sephiroth took a deep breath, and he sat against the headboard. That blank look was back, but she could see the tiny furrow was still between his brows as he answered. "Your stay with Commander Hewley was a special exception that was granted due to the circumstances and your guarantee of a job within three months. Now, things are different. Commander Rhapsodos did ask for permission, but only after he assured us you had agreed to live with him."

Alex was at a complete loss for words. She wasn't sure if he was angry or not. Were they in trouble? She shook her head as she tried to answer. "I don't want to cause problems. I can always—"

She was cut off before she could finish. "Do you want to live with him? Have you decided to spend the rest of your life with him?"

Alex froze in shock. Sephiroth hadn't spoken in a voice any different than he ever had before. His face held no other expression, and yet, there was something in his eyes she had never seen before. She wasn't sure what to make of it. But even without that, she had to shake her head and look away as she nearly whispered. "I'm sorry. I don't have an answer to that."

There was an icy tone that crept into Sephiroth's voice as he pressed, "Why not? Surely it is a simple yes or no answer. Do you wish to spend your life with him or not?"