Loveless

Part 7

It took several hours for Eloise to truly understand and process everything Genesis had told her. Genesis himself, however, appeared disturbingly calm, almost detached, as though he didn't fully grasp the weight of what he had placed on her shoulders.

From behind his book, his gaze occasionally drifted toward the silent girl. Eloise seemed simple at a glance, a young recruit standing at the very beginning of what would shape the rest of her life. Her bright blue eyes were fixed on her hands, glowing faintly beneath the light, and he couldn't tell whether she was afraid, angry, or simply overwhelmed. Genesis sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't expected her silence, especially not after calling her a lab rat so openly. This was not how the conversation was supposed to end.

"Are you planning to stay silent all night?" he asked.

She didn't answer immediately, but she lifted her head and looked at him. Her expression was blank, almost unsettling. Genesis narrowed his eyes, stepped closer, and waved a hand in front of her face, yet she didn't even blink. After studying her for a moment longer, he backed away and decided to leave her alone, retreating to the small kitchen area to prepare tea.

"What do I do now?" she asked quietly.

Genesis raised an eyebrow. The vulnerability in her voice felt unfamiliar, and it didn't match the image he had formed of her so far. He heard her shift slightly behind him and glanced over his shoulder.

"Nothing," he replied. "We wait for Hollander."

She hesitated before speaking again. "After that fight between you, Angeal, and Sephiroth... you got hurt, didn't you?" She paused, then continued carefully. "You still seem to be hurt. I guess you lost control of your jealousy of Sephiroth. I can't blame you, he is the face of SOLDIER. Of the perfect hero. And then there's you."

Genesis turned off the stove and faced her fully, curiosity replacing irritation.

"I could say the same about you," he said calmly. "There's Zack Fair, following Angeal around like a loyal puppy, improving faster every day, already close to First Class. And then there's you, Eloise Fair, a child who was fortunate enough to enter SOLDIER at all."

Strangely, the words didn't hurt as much as she had expected. She knew they were true. Zack had years of experience, while she was only just beginning.

"Who were you before SOLDIER?" she asked, her eyes lighting with genuine interest.

Genesis paused. He had always been different from Angeal and Sephiroth, more expressive, more driven by the thrill of combat. Her question caught him off guard.

"I was just a boy," he said after a moment. "I grew up in an ordinary place."

She frowned and studied him closely. "You're lying," she said simply. "Is that the only lie, or is it something Shinra taught you to say to appease your fan clubs?"

Genesis stiffened. She had steered the conversation away from herself without him realizing it, focusing instead on his weaknesses.

"Why are you so curious about things that don't concern you?" he snapped.

She didn't back down. "Were you rich? Or a thief?"

He sighed, exhausted, and walked to the door, unlocking it and holding it open.

"You should go rest. Your training starts early," he said, dismissing her without further argument.

She left without protest, but on her way back to her room, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Genesis guarded his past too carefully for someone who claimed it was unimportant, and she wondered if she had pushed too far.

The next day passed in a blur. Eloise struggled to focus during training and was reprimanded for being overly cautious in combat. Her thoughts kept circling back to Genesis's words, to the truth that her power wasn't entirely her own. Knowing she had advanced so far because of mako energy left her conflicted and disheartened.

She planned to spend the next few hours alone, but her path crossed with Angeal instead.

"How's your training going?" he asked, clearly referring to Sephiroth.

"It's hard," she replied with a shrug. "But I'll survive."

Angeal patted her head encouragingly before adding, "And Genesis?"

She froze. Angeal noticed immediately.

"What about Genesis?" she asked, forcing calm into her voice. "There's nothing going on."

"He told me not to answer your questions about him," Angeal said lightly. "Did something happen between you two?"

Before she could respond, Zack's voice echoed through the hallway.

"Eloise!"

He appeared grinning. "Guess who's going on a mission tomorrow?"

Her surprise was immediate. She glanced at Angeal, who looked concerned.

"Does Sephiroth know?" Angeal asked.

"I do," Sephiroth said as he entered the lounge. He rested a hand on her head. "It's a simple mission. You'll be fine, but training continues today."

Later, during training, Sephiroth focused on unarmed combat. She struggled until frustration pushed her to use her energy, managing to strike him once and scratch his forehead. It wasn't enough. She left battered, burned, and exhausted.

"Beating me up before my mission," she muttered bitterly.

Genesis appeared nearby, smirking. "What happened to you, newbie?"

"I don't want to talk," she snapped.

"Did you finally realize why you advanced so quickly?" he pressed.

She glared. "I have a mission tomorrow. Let me have one Genesis-free night."

She slammed the door. He laughed softly from the hallway.

"Take care, Eloise. You wouldn't want to lose control out there."

Angeal, who had overheard everything, stopped Genesis near the elevator.

"You're pushing her too far."

Genesis opened his book calmly. "She's not a child."

"She's not like us," Angeal insisted.

Genesis sighed. "You're wrong. She's more like us than you think."

Angeal watched him go, knowing Genesis was hiding far more than he was willing to admit.