Loveless

Part 1

It was a bright spring day, one of those rare, crystal-clear days when the air feels fresh enough to start a new life. Even when clouds drifted lazily across the sky, nothing could dim the warmth pouring over Midgar. The city shimmered under the sun like steel waking from a long sleep."

"I'm finally here,"

For Eloise Fair, that spring morning marked the beginning of everything she had dreamed of. She was now officially a 3rd Class SOLDIER. The emblem on her uniform felt heavier than she expected.

But nothing thrilled her more than the thought of seeing her brother again.

Shinra Headquarters towered above her like a monument carved into the sky. Standing at its base felt like standing at the foot of a mountain made of glass and metal. Once inside, she was swallowed by polished floors, bright lights, and wide corridors that twisted through the building like arteries. SOLDIERs, scientists, MPs—people of every rank—moved with purpose around her.

Her eyes darted everywhere. Every hallway felt like a new world. She wanted to explore all of it.

"I wonder if he'll be happy to have me here..." she whispered, feeling the weight of the moment settle in.

She hadn't told Zack anything about her transfer, or about her entering the military to begin with. She had spent months dodging missions where he might appear, wanting the surprise to be perfect.

"You mean me?"

She spun around so quickly her hair whipped over her shoulder. Zack stood there, sunlight hitting the mako in his eyes just right, making them glow.

"I'm happy you're here, Eloise.  It's been too long," He said and pulled her into a warm hug.

"Really?" Eloise asked once he let her go.

His grin didn't waver for even a second. That alone eased something in her chest.

Before she could react again, a calm, steady voice joined them.

"And who is this young lady?"

Eloise turned and saw a man who looked nothing like the loud, lively SOLDIERs she had met before. His posture was perfect, his expression composed, his dark hair neatly tied back. Even out of uniform, you could tell he belonged in the First Class.

Zack practically bounced. "Angeal! This is my sweet, dear, extraordinary, funny, happy, messy younger sister, Eloise!" He fired the words off like bullets.

Eloise laughed softly. Zack never changed.

"And Elly," Zack continued proudly, "this is Angeal Hewley. My mentor. First Class SOLDIER."

Eloise looked up at the man properly this time. His mako-blue eyes were deeper and calmer than Zack's, glowing with experience rather than energy. He seemed strong in a grounded, quietly powerful way. There was something comforting about him.

"So you're his mentor," she said. "Does that mean you have to deal with all his antics? Does he follow you around like a lost puppy?"

Angeal gave a soft, warm chuckle. "Quite often, yes."

Zack groaned dramatically. Eloise shook her head, her big brother really wasn't the older sibling in the room.

"Can you show me where the lounge is? I heard Shinra keeps the latest tech there. I want to see those giant plasma screens."

Zack burst into laughter. Angeal blinked, surprised, then smiled, clearly recognizing the Fair sibling energy.

They walked together through several floors, passing training rooms that hummed with machinery, offices stacked with documents, and glass walls revealing glimpses of Midgar far below. When they finally reached the lounge, Eloise froze in wonder.

The room was wide and bright, with tall windows that let in sheets of sunlight. The enormous TV opened like a floating screen of light on the wall. A few SOLDIERs were scattered around, resting or chatting, but the space felt peaceful.

"It's incredible," she breathed, walking to the window. The view of the upper plates and the distant edges of the city stole her breath.

"So this is where you disappeared, Angeal."

Eloise turned. A tall figure stepped into the room—silver hair catching the light, long, straight, and impossibly smooth. His presence filled the space the moment he entered. The air seemed to shift around him.

His grey eyes scanned the room until they landed on Zack.

"The puppy is with you. As always." His tone wasn't insulting—just matter-of-fact, as if he was stating a universal truth.

Then he looked at her.

"And who might you be?"

"You're... Sephiroth," she whispered, stunned. "I heard so many stories about you when I was an officer."

He gave a low, almost silent chuckle—a sound with no warmth, more like an exhale of amusement.

Zack placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "It's normal to be nervous. Everyone is around him."

But Eloise wasn't sure she was nervous. Shocked? Awed? Maybe all at once.

"Were the stories good or bad?" Sephiroth asked, clearly intrigued by her reaction.

She blinked a few times, regaining composure. Zack stepped aside wordlessly, leaving the two of them facing each other.

"Should I lie," she asked softly, "or tell you the truth?"

Sephiroth tilted his head slightly—something about her answer interested him.

"Aren't they all the same?" he said.

"No." She held his gaze. "Some stories say you represent perfection. The hero everyone wants to become. But others say you're the danger of perfection. That when someone is too good... people start wondering if he's even real."

There was a flicker—almost invisible—in Sephiroth's eyes. He leaned closer, curious.

"I like you."

The room froze. Even Zack stopped breathing.

"Those are big words from someone in your position, Sephiroth," Angeal warned. "You can't just take her as your protégé."

Sephiroth didn't look away. "Why not? You have your Fair puppy. Why shouldn't I take his sister?"

Zack frowned protectively. Angeal stepped forward, already preparing to lecture them all on responsibility and SOLDIER ethics.

But Eloise spoke first.

"I'd like that. If you still want to teach me."

Both Firsts turned to her.

"I want to be one of the best," she said, voice steady. "And there's no better mentor than Sephiroth."

Angeal looked like he had run out of arguments. Sephiroth had the faintest shadow of a victorious smirk. Zack was trying to figure out how his little sister—who once tripped over her own sword—had reached this moment.

"So," Eloise said, feeling her heart race, "I guess I'm Sephiroth's protégé now?"

As she met the silver-haired legend's gaze, she felt something shift in the air—like the beginning of a new chapter.