#lazardfinalfantasy

Chapter 1: Duties

You were lying on the sofa of the common room, trying to get some sleep after your last mission, maybe a bed would have been more comfortable, but there were too many people in your bedroom, because, being only a 2nd class SOLDIER, forced you to share your bedroom with at least other six people, you liked them, they were good people to share a bedroom with, but they were so loud sometimes that you couldn’t even hear your own thoughts.

That’s it, that’s why you were trying to sleep on the sofa, you were nearly in the land of dreams, when someone yelled suddenly at you

“(Y/N)!”

It was Zack, one of your roommates, who had planted his palms on the back of the sofa you were currently on to lean over and screaming your name with his usual happy voice, but you nearly fell over in fright. Zack just laughed and jumped over the backrest to sit at your side.

“Letting your guard down, (n/n)?”

You readjusted, sitting with your legs crossed and one hand over your mouth to hide your yawn

“Well… I should rest sometimes, after all I didn’t sleep for the past two nights” you murmured, still a bit sleepy

“Ow, too bad, I was waiting for you” he said smirking and in a suggestive tone

“Uh? How so…?” you asked, the sleepiness already gone for the curiosity

“Nah… I’ll leave you to sleep, since you are sooo tired” he mocked you while getting up from the sofa, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes.

You frowned and pouted “aw come on!” you whined, planting your hands on the edge of the sofa “puleeaase” you whined again, this time smirking and getting up to poke his cheek.

You started to poke all of his body, by the time you were actually tickling him, he fell to the floor for laughing too hard and you kneeled beside him to continue your little torture session, when you heard a little cough, you lifted your head to look at two men, two 1st class actually.

You got up immediately, trying to perform a salute that turned out strange, since you couldn’t seem to regain your composure, while Zack remained on the floor on one side, one leg crossed over the other and the palm of his hand to sustain his head while his elbow was planted on the floor

“Hey Angeal!” He smirked, gesturing with his fingers

“The simulation room is free right now” he nodded at him with just an hint of a smirk “didn’t you ask for it?”

Your eyes shined and your smile couldn’t be bigger

“Why did you ask for it so eagerly, anyway?” the other man, one with auburn hair asked, before looking in your direction and frowning, you were hugging Zack, nearly choking him with your strength

“Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!” you exclaimed, your smile couldn’t be even bigger when he started laughing, pushing you a bit away after having hugged you shortly, you then looked at the two 1st class and started to explain “you see, Zack promised me he would’ve take me to train in the simulation room”.

You stood up and smiled even larger at the boy beside you, who was also getting up

“why didn’t you ask directly to us?” The man with auburn hair asked

“Come on, Genesis” Angeal elbowed slightly the man beside him, receiving a slight growl from him “you know that the girl is a bit shy around you”

“It’s not true!” you snapped, making the three men looking at you “I-I mean, it’s not true…” you repeated in a quieter tone “I know that the room is always occupied by someone of a higher range than mine because they have priority, but Zack was usually there, so I asked him to do me a favor” you continued, your head low from embarrassment of having shouted before.

“Yes! And I granted your wish, so now let’s not waste time anymore!” Zack happily said before grabbing your arm and pulling you along.

The two 1st class watched the raven haired boy dragging you in a jog, until you escaped his grip and started running away while laughing, the boy laughing along and starting chasing you.

Angeal was smirking a bit, until he heard shuffling beside him and saw Genesis starting to walk in the direction you were running just moment before “where are you going?” he asked

“To see the fight, are you coming?” the redhead said, without even turning his head to look at his friend.

  You were running towards your opponent, i.e. Zack, in the simulation room, which, at the moment, was displaying a suggestive and very beautiful seaside landscape. The raven haired boy hoped that it could keep you a bit more calm, knowing your usual behavior during training, but he was so wrong. In fact, if your normal self was usual an happy and sometimes bit shy girl, who got distracted easily, during the battle you were always focused on the target, no matter what, you also had a great strength, your moves almost always flawless, all of this reasons made you one of the best 2nd class, also one of the very few women accepted through the lines of SOLDIERs.

The two first class from before were watching the fight through the screens outside the room, a little smirk pulling at the edge of the redhead lips as you launched yourself at your opponent with a loud scream, your sword clashing hard on the other’s one

“I know your bet is on her” Angeal said, breaking the silence, Genesis only turned his head for a moment towards his friend, frowning, before slowly turning again to watch the screens

“Well of course” he answered, the echoing of both yours and Zack’s screaming and battle noises the only thing that could be heard for a bit, until he spoke again “I’m starting to think that you should’ve decide to train her, instead of that puppy of yours”

“Really?” the raven haired SOLDIER crossed his arms over his chest and fully turned to look at Genesis “why? So you could’ve seen her more often?” he asked in a playful smirk

“what is this supposed to mean?” an annoyed look on the SOLDIER with auburn hair as he, also, turned to look in the eyes of the other one “I just think that her fighting abilities are far more superior than the one of your puppy”

“why don’t you train her, then?”

“it’s not my area” he shrugged

“it’s not your area, uh?” his smirk widening

“no, I do not wish to take the assignment of looking after someone else” he rolled his eyes

“then I will ask Zack instead… to be her companion on her next mission”,  he now fully smiled, turning back to walk away “see you at dinner” he gave an hint of a wave.

Genesis frowned a bit in his direction, until he heard the noise of the door of the room opening, and saw you and Zack walking outside, a bit bruised and definitely breathless, but still lightly laughing, he turned in your direction and smiled to you when he met your eyes, you smiled back briefly, before walking away to accompany the boy that was currently leaning on you to the infirmary.

  “Here they come!” Angeal happily announced when he saw you and Zack approaching their table during dinner, a trail in the hands of both of you, you saw him sitting with Sephiroth and Genesis, waving for you to come sit with them “about time!” he exclaimed when you were closer, looking between you and Zack “what took you so long?”

“Well… Zack was beat up, umh… really bad” you murmured with an hint of a smirk on your lips, you felt bad for the boy, but you were also proud of your progress

“yeah, but it’s all fine now” he rolled his eyes, before almost throwing his trail on the table and sitting beside Angeal, you laughed a bit and proceeded to sit beside the raven haired boy, the other two 1st class on the opposite side of the three of you, you noticed they had finished their meal already, but not too long ago.

“why aren’t you already a 1st class, I wonder…” Genesis smirked at you

“Oh well, it’s not like the ShinRa is a place for sexist” you sarcastically answered, the other laughing with you a bit “anyway” you started again, fiddling with your food, while looking intently at it “it’s not like I’m as good as you all”

“you still have a path to follow kid, all will arrive with time” Sephiroth smiled at you, you smiled back and started to eat.

The conversation restarted between the rest of them, you only made some comment here and there, meanwhile you noticed Genesis putting away a book in the pocket of his jacket.

“hey (y/n)” said Angeal at some point “for your next mission-“

“my next mission?” you pouted a bit “ but I just came back!”

“don’t worry, it’s just a routine town checking in Banora”

“well then… why don’t you send a 3rd class instead?” you rubbed your forehead a bit

Angeal laughed a bit “sorry, ask Lazard instead, you know they come from him”

You frowned, you didn’t want to go to your superior and whining just because you didn’t want to do your job. So you sighed and looked up at raven haired 1st class “what about my mission, Angeal?”

“I thought you could use some company” you couldn’t really swear on it, but you thought seeing him flashing a smirk to Genesis, “so” he started solemnly “Zack, you go with her”

Zack hugged you excited and smiled joyfully “yay! A mission together, (n/n)!”

You laughed along with him “yes it’s been a while!”

“(n/n)?” asked Genesis, mostly to himself, but you were able to hear him

“yes, it’s the nickname Zack gave me” you answered, pulling away from the hug

“now you give each other nicknames?” asked Sephiroth almost scoffing

“no, it’s just him giving me stupid names!” you frowned, a bit embarrassed

“well, (n/n)” the red haired 1st class almost spat out that little word while standing “I’m sorry to be the ‘party pooper’, but tomorrow you’re coming with me” he smiled

“and why is that?” asked Sephiroth, with a bit of amusement

“because” he glared to his silver haired friend, before turning again to you “the city you’re going tomorrow is my hometown, you know?”

“Banora?” you asked confused

“yes, since I know the place our task will be easier” he nodded, as if to try and convince more himself of the credibility of his excuse, before heading to his room, you then cleared your throat and headed to Lazard’s office to know the details of your mission after cleaning his and yours trail.

After you were gone the two 1st class started laughing, Angeal louder than Sephiroth’s composed laugh, while Zack started to look around, frowning “what? What happened?”

  The next morning Genesis was fully ready and waiting for you on the first floor, he huffed, you were late, or was he who came too much early? He huffed again, trying to clear his mind from this useless thoughts and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply

“Hey Gen!” his head snapped up and his eyes open at the sound of that voice, he rolled his eyes looking at his raven haired friend walking towards him, he knew exactly why he was there: obviously to tease him.

“so… changed your mind?” Angeal smirked standing in front of his friend, his arms crossed over his chest

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” he huffed crossing one leg over the other and letting his back fall on the backrest

“Ow come on… ‘it’s my hometown so the task will be easier’?” he scoffed “how can a simple look around could possibly be easier?”

The other 1st class rolled his eyes again, when he heard footsteps approaching them quickly, he turned his head towards the source of the sound to see that you were running, almost breathless.

You putted your hands on your knees, while arching your back and panting heavily “sorry… for… the delay” you managed to say through your heavy breaths

“don’t worry” said Genesis, standing up “come, our departing is in a few minutes” he started to walk away and you straighten your back, smiling and waving to Angeal before following the red haired.

  You sighed and stretched your back getting out of the helicopter “the air here is sooo fresh” you sighed deeply with a smile and your eyes closed

Genesis reaching you as soon as he also got down from the helicopter, the sword swirling in one hand, while the other was on his hip “I know, right?” he said, looking around almost emotionless, until he was distracted by one of your marveled gasp

“what are those?” you asked, running towards some arc like shaped trees, their trunks were white and the petals of their flowers were falling, preparing the trees to bear fruit

The auburn haired man reached you for the second time and smiled at you a bit, before turning his head upwards to look at the rays of sunshine coming through the branches “these are Banora White’s trees” he said, looking back at you “but the villagers call them-”

“dumbapples! They’re dumbapples trees!” you exclaimed, cutting him off and looking around you amazed

“yes… you know them?” he smiled down at you

You smiled back and answered “Of course! How could I ever not know about dumbapples? I would have zero possibilities to make 1st otherwise!” you looked around yourself a bit more before starting to speak again “besides… I always wanted to try one”

You were looking towards the not so distant little village of Banora, the sunlight and the trees’ shadows covering you created an amazing play of light, bringing out all your beautiful features.

Genesis looked at you in admiration, regaining his composure when he realized he was staring “shall we go?” he asked, starting to walk towards the village.

  “Hey (y/n)” the 1st class started, striding on the grass, he was too tall for you and the only way to keep his pace was going on a bit jog next to him “I’ll let you know” he came to an halt in front of a wooden house, you stopped next to him “that this is also Angeal’s hometown” he nodded towards the house “this is his home” he then smiled at you, before starting to walk again, this time in a calmer pace.

You looked at the house a bit more, before striding to reach him “so that’s why you’re so bonded with each other, you’re childhood friends” you reasoned to yourself in a whisper.

After a while you came to another halt and, from a distance, you could see a playfield where some kids were chasing each other for fun “this is where we usually played” Genesis said, following the children with his gaze.

You nodded and then there was silence between you two before you spoke again “will you show me other places?” you asked and he grabbed your wrist, dragging you in a little tour of the village.

  You were sitting on the grass, cross legged, while Genesis was behind you, leaning on a tree, you stretched and let your back fall on the ground

“thanks Genesis” you sighed, looking at him from your position “for our little tour”

He winked at you and proceeded to sit down near your head, his legs stretched forward and his back leaned on the tree trunk; he then grabbed a book from his pocket and opened it, to start reading it, you recognized it for being the same book as yesterday “Lo… v…” you whispered, in an attempt to read the cover

“Loveless” he read it for you

“interesting name” you murmured rolling on your stomach and planting your elbows on the grass to lift your upper body

“the content is interesting as well” he smirked

“then what are you waiting for? Read it to me” you proceeded to rest your chin in your palms, he looked at you for a bit, almost trying to figure you out, before starting to read.

  By the time Genesis finished reading you had closed your eyes and rested your chin on your crossed arms

“(y/n)” he sighed “are you sleeping?” he asked, leaning a bit towards you

“how could have I?” you smiled opening your eyes to look at him “it was too beautiful to lose even a single bit of it”

He smiled softly at you and closed his book to rest his right arm on one knee while keeping the other arm and leg stretched, you got up to sit beside him cross-legged

“how come Angeal and Sephiroth don’t like to hear it?” you chuckled softly

“I think I’ve bored them to death” he frowned

“well… I like it” you smiled, before frowning a bit

“what happened?” he asked gently

“uh… nothing, it’s just that… you showed me all Banora, except for your places”

“what do you mean? I showed you the places where Angeal and I-”

“exactly!” you exclaimed interrupting him “you didn’t show me nothing only yours”

He stared at you for a moment, thinking about a proper answer, before scoffing and looking away from you “ I don’t like my past” he stated, while shaking his head

You bit your bottom lip, thinking, then you felt regret and shame, regret for asking such a question and shame for having upset Genesis “I’m sorry” you murmured, looking down at your lap