Unconditional (Sephiroth x OC)

Chapter 3 - Making A Decision

"Think it over, Mona. This offer is more than just a job. It is an opportunity for you to live the dreams you have only been daring to write about. Your service for Soldier will be a service for the whole world, including the person you admire most in the world."

Mona stared at the business card in her hand as she recalled the conversation she had with director Lazard. The thoughts were overshadowing her will to write like clouds blocking the sun from illuminating a new day. She had put her notebook away in a drawer, unable to form any sentences, unable to sleep as well. So she lied there, awake and pondering.

She had long abandoned the idea of creating a better world. But her admiration for Sephiroth was a different story.

Mona remembered it like it was yesterday.

Her eight-years-old self had snuck out one night to search for her father who had left the house after another argument with her mother. After hours of aimlessly running around in their neighborhood, she had given up and started crying, crying about missing her father, crying about not being able to find him, crying about everything. She had sat down on a bench where her eyes had landed on a newspaper someone seemed to have forgotten there. A picture of a boy with silver hair and green eyes had been on the front page. 'War hero at age thirteen! Midgar celebrates young Soldier Sephiroth' the headline had said. Curious and captivated by the boy's beauty, Mona had taken the newspaper into her hands and started to read.

Lightning had struck her that day. She had wanted to become someone who could make others happy - just like that boy in the newspaper. It had been that wish that had kept her going, that had made her endure it all.

And even after she did not make it, she had felt fulfillment in knowing that he kept thriving. But now he was at risk at becoming just like her: a person with lost dreams and no purpose.

But how could she save him from it when she had not even been able to save herself?

Mona sighed and put the business card on the nightstand before turning the light off.

This was one of the most difficult decisions she ever had to make.

The next morning Mona yawned as she walked the short way from her apartment to the Shinra building. She looked at her phone and contemplated between getting a coffee or being scolded by Evelyn for being too late. She decided for the former, fearing that she would not be able to function without caffeine in her system.

Perhaps she could appease Evelyn by grabbing a coffee for her as well.

"Hi!" The girl at the counter greeted her. "What can I get you?"

"Two coffees to go please, both with milk and sugar. Oh but could you please make one with oatmilk? My friend is vegan."

"Sure! Anything else?"

"No, thank you." She smiled.

Mona watched the girl as she prepared her order. The doorbell chimed and two women lined up behind her, making her an involuntary listener of their conversation.

"I have been suspecting it for a long time, actually. Everyone seems to find his cool demeanor sooo attractive but I just think he is incredibly arrogant. I mean Angeal and Genesis are the same rank as him but you don't see them ignoring their fans."

"Yeah ... To be honest, I was really disappointed when he did not acknowledge anyone in the cafeteria yesterday."

"I know right? He always looks like he feels too good to be surrounded by us normal folks. No wonder Soldier is struggling with recruiting new members."

"You mean ... it could be Sephiroth's fault?"

"I mean ... I would not put it past him if he treated new recruits as badly as he treats his admirers. Most of them are his fans anyways. He probably scared them off."

Mona heard the women chuckle and it tickled every nerve in her system. She struggled with herself to not turn around and put them into their place for creating baseless rumors that could ruin someone's reputation, ruin his reputation. So what if he was not a people person? That did not make him a narcist, not when he put his own life on the line for them to be able to sleep well every night!

"That would be 6 GIL." The barista interrupted her thoughts.

Mona fished out her wallet from her backpack and paid before leaving the coffee shop, sending one last glance at the gossiping women who were still giggling among themselves.

Once outside, she huffed in annoyance and placed the coffees on a nearby bench to rearrange herself. Something fell out of her wallet and Mona found herself staring at that business card, once again recalling director Lazard's words:

"Your service for Soldier will be a service for the whole world, including the person you admire most in the world."

An image of Sephiroth sitting in the cafeteria appeared in her mind . She saw him sitting there with a slight smile while listening to his friends bantering among themselves , rare and beautiful sights that she had had the privilege of having.

If words were the enemy, then she could battle them with her own. If that is what it would take to keep his smile alive, she would try.

Mona picked up the business card from the ground and took out her phone.

"Hello director Lazard? It's Mona Abell. I think ... I would like to accept your offer."