Even Demons Can Be Saved

Finding Truth

Once they reached his office, Sephiroth indicated for Eve to take one of the seats in front of his desk. She sat and watched him warily as he moved to the position behind it. Once he was seated, he looked at her for a few moments before he leaned forward and steepled his fingers together before speaking. "I have quite a few questions, but the most important all deal with why you reacted the way you did when you saw Midgar. You said you didn't believe in the city or me; why is that?"

At his question, she had to bite back a curse. Of course, he had to start with the hardest question to answer. At least she had an answer, of sorts anyway. Hopefully, it would be enough. "My father used to share stories with me, about Shinra and Soldier, as well as you, Commander Rhapsodos, and Commander Hewley. There were a lot of things he said, and most of them were pretty fantastic, so I assumed they were nothing but tales meant to entertain. I never thought they could be real."

He sat back with a contemplative look and took a moment before he responded. "And who was your father to know all these tales? How did he come by his knowledge?"

Her face drew into a blank mask before she answered him. "He was a simple carpenter. He built cabinetry mostly, although he would occasionally help build homes. Honestly, he was no one special if that is what you think, at least not special in the way you are insinuating."

He watched her eyes for a moment before he spoke. His voice was softer. "He was special to you, though. And he's gone now?"

She looked away from him before she spoke. "Yes, he's been dead for some time now."

He gave her a few moments. He could tell that talking about her father had upset her. When she finally looked back to him again, he spoke. "I apologize for bringing up a painful subject. I can understand how you might think he was only sharing stories if it was something he told you in that context. That doesn't really explain why you were surprised by the sight of Midgar. This is essentially the capital of the world. Surely you learned about it as you grew up?"

She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep in a curse at his question. She didn't have a good answer, but she had to tell him something. She knew she couldn't take too much longer either, or he would get suspicious. She needed to remember that most of the people in Shinra were not stupid by a long shot. She finally blurted out the first thing that she could think of. "Of course, I have heard of it, but I never expected to come here. Not knowing how I ended up in the snow and then seeing Midgar was more than a little bit of a shock, especially as I had been at the beach. It's a lot to take in all at once."

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he sat back and looked at her intently for several moments. She had a hard time not showing how nervous she was under his intent gaze. Whatever he was thinking was interrupted by a knock on the door. He looked up, and she barely caught a look of irritation before it cleared, and he called out. "Come in."

The look of irritation returned when it was Genesis that walked in. Sephiroth wore a slight scowl as he spoke. "I wasn't expecting you for another half hour."

Genesis had already noticed Eve, however, and he ignored Sephiroth's sharp remark in favor of addressing her. "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess. It seems as though the Goddess is smiling on me today. It is a pleasure to see you again so soon."

Eve had to work hard not to match Sephiroth's scowl at the redhead's schmoozing. She managed to give him a level look as she responded. "I'm certain it was no coincidence as General Sephiroth did ask for your presence."

She only realized how condescending her response must have sounded when Genesis frowned slightly. He wasn't allowed to reply; however, as Sephiroth spoke up. "Genesis, that's enough. I suppose it won't hurt that you are early. Eve does have something to do with why I asked you to come."