It was supposed to be an ordinary moment, a brief pause in the relentless rhythm of your lives within Shinra’s towering headquarters. Sephiroth, ever the perfectionist, had insisted on taking a break—he’d always been meticulous about his physical and mental upkeep. The two of you stood in an isolated part of the building, near a set of windows that offered a view of the busy city streets below. Sephiroth, typically always in control, had his arms loosely crossed as he leaned against the cool stone of the wall. His gaze was distant, but when he looked at you, there was a softness behind those sharp, analytical eyes, something he rarely showed anyone. You smiled, the shared quiet between you two a small oasis in the chaos that surrounded you.

“What’s on your mind, Seph?” you asked, voice low, more teasing than anything.

He glanced at you, the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips. “A soldier never stops thinking,” he replied, but there was warmth in his tone, an underlying softness. “I was just thinking how much I value moments like this. No demands, no expectations.”

You nodded, your smile deepening. It was rare, these fleeting moments, and even rarer that Sephiroth allowed himself to show such vulnerability. The silence between you two was comfortable—no words needed, only the shared understanding. But neither of you noticed the quiet figure lurking in the hallway, the camera that clicked unseen, capturing the perfect, intimate moment.

The next day, everything changed. The press had gotten hold of the photo, and soon, your secret relationship was no longer a secret. Rumors began to spread like wildfire across the Shinra compound, whispers rippling through hallways, reaching the ears of everyone—from the low-ranking soldiers to the highest executives. Suddenly, Sephiroth, the man who commanded the battlefield and the respect of everyone in Shinra, was reduced to a subject of gossip.

“Are you alright?” he asked one evening bringing you out of your own thoughts, your eyes fell on the man in front of you.