Light Without Shadows- Misleading
Title: Misleading
Arc: Light Without Shadows
Fandom: FF7
Warning: AU (Yes another one, though this is more along the lines of 'what if' instead of being a different world, so... AT Alternate timeline would be better right?)
Note: Okay, this is its own universe. Like the Sephira-verse, I've played with the idea of 'what if Sephiroth was born in a different way' idea again. Last time was girl. This time it's not him who is different. And I won't say what it is until the next part's notes because that'd give away the end of this chapter story ficlet thing. To fic!
Valentine was so very outraged over the plans being made with Lucretia's pregnancy. He was quite focused, and it was fortunate that he wasn't yelling. Without the need to quiet him, Hojo, ever courteous, patiently sat and listened as the man railed.
He never wanted it said that he'd never given the man anything. Clearly, he had. He'd let him go on and on about how morals should be placed above science, and how innocent lives shouldn't be ruined in the face of science. He made it sound like science was some sort of unimportant factor, far below the culmination of blood vessels and electronic bursts that constituted a fetus.
If he hadn't been focused so on finding a way to use the outburst to his advantage, he might have been annoyed. Violently so. As it stood, he much preferred using resources to their fullest… life.
To redirect his thoughts away from something more immediately gratifying, he made a steeple of his fingers and rested them against his lips. "You want me to simply stop? Now? Do you have any idea how foolish the very idea is?"
"It isn't foolish, if you had any-"
Hojo shook his head and waved the man to a stop before he could once again gain momentum. "You misunderstand me. Now that it's been begun I cannot simply stop. You realize it would kill one, if not both?"
This time the man came to a full halt before even getting his mouth open, eyes wide and stunned in the manner of someone who had just been shot. There was satisfaction in patience, and seeing such a look was merely one instance of it. "What?"
"Yes, the fetus has been processing and using the treatments. This has made Lucretia dependent to an extent, and a sudden cease would very likely have highly damaging results at this stage of the pregnancy."
"I don't believe you." Fists clenching, it was more than simplicity to see the impotent rage building in the man's frame. He wasn't a scientist, so he had no grounds on which to stand and argue, though clearly that did not mean he would not try.
Being in this position never got old. "I'm certain you don't. However, in a show of faith, between friends, when the child is born, I will not start any additional experiments. I'm sure Lucretia will understand your concern, but you can at least wait until then before getting more upset, can't you?"
He watched the other man's mouth work a bit before he ended up locking his jaw. "Of course. Would I be permitted to look with my own eyes?"
Hojo leaned back in his seat, and he gave the man a smile, acting as though he were granting a favor instead of the man's question being exactly what he had wanted. "In this instance, I will allow it. After I have established the health of the infant. I cannot be derelict just to satisfy you about my intentions, now can I? Oh yes, you will also not be attending the delivery, no matter how loyal of a little guard dog you just so happen to be."
By now, the crimson eyed man had been reduced to gritting his teeth. Hojo could only smile wider at the struggle it clearly was for Valentine to get the words out. "Of course. Thank you."
"You're very welcome. Now, if you're finished, I have other tasks that need my attention."
Body tense and stride stiff, the other man left the room, closing the door behind him too gently to be anything other than care taken not to slam it.
Smiling to himself, Hojo took out the file in his top drawer and studied the papers. Twins. He would be very careful to ensure both survived, and if all worked out to plan, he would have a steady control by which to gauge the improvements of his project. It would also ensure that there would be a replacement if he made any unfixable mistakes with his active speciman.
And because I've decided to do a November wordcount too...
General fic: 674
NaNo: 3481
All: 4155
And I so suck compared to the word-divas.
Arc: Light Without Shadows
Fandom: FF7
Warning: AU (Yes another one, though this is more along the lines of 'what if' instead of being a different world, so... AT Alternate timeline would be better right?)
Note: Okay, this is its own universe. Like the Sephira-verse, I've played with the idea of 'what if Sephiroth was born in a different way' idea again. Last time was girl. This time it's not him who is different. And I won't say what it is until the next part's notes because that'd give away the end of this chapter story ficlet thing. To fic!
Valentine was so very outraged over the plans being made with Lucretia's pregnancy. He was quite focused, and it was fortunate that he wasn't yelling. Without the need to quiet him, Hojo, ever courteous, patiently sat and listened as the man railed.
He never wanted it said that he'd never given the man anything. Clearly, he had. He'd let him go on and on about how morals should be placed above science, and how innocent lives shouldn't be ruined in the face of science. He made it sound like science was some sort of unimportant factor, far below the culmination of blood vessels and electronic bursts that constituted a fetus.
If he hadn't been focused so on finding a way to use the outburst to his advantage, he might have been annoyed. Violently so. As it stood, he much preferred using resources to their fullest… life.
To redirect his thoughts away from something more immediately gratifying, he made a steeple of his fingers and rested them against his lips. "You want me to simply stop? Now? Do you have any idea how foolish the very idea is?"
"It isn't foolish, if you had any-"
Hojo shook his head and waved the man to a stop before he could once again gain momentum. "You misunderstand me. Now that it's been begun I cannot simply stop. You realize it would kill one, if not both?"
This time the man came to a full halt before even getting his mouth open, eyes wide and stunned in the manner of someone who had just been shot. There was satisfaction in patience, and seeing such a look was merely one instance of it. "What?"
"Yes, the fetus has been processing and using the treatments. This has made Lucretia dependent to an extent, and a sudden cease would very likely have highly damaging results at this stage of the pregnancy."
"I don't believe you." Fists clenching, it was more than simplicity to see the impotent rage building in the man's frame. He wasn't a scientist, so he had no grounds on which to stand and argue, though clearly that did not mean he would not try.
Being in this position never got old. "I'm certain you don't. However, in a show of faith, between friends, when the child is born, I will not start any additional experiments. I'm sure Lucretia will understand your concern, but you can at least wait until then before getting more upset, can't you?"
He watched the other man's mouth work a bit before he ended up locking his jaw. "Of course. Would I be permitted to look with my own eyes?"
Hojo leaned back in his seat, and he gave the man a smile, acting as though he were granting a favor instead of the man's question being exactly what he had wanted. "In this instance, I will allow it. After I have established the health of the infant. I cannot be derelict just to satisfy you about my intentions, now can I? Oh yes, you will also not be attending the delivery, no matter how loyal of a little guard dog you just so happen to be."
By now, the crimson eyed man had been reduced to gritting his teeth. Hojo could only smile wider at the struggle it clearly was for Valentine to get the words out. "Of course. Thank you."
"You're very welcome. Now, if you're finished, I have other tasks that need my attention."
Body tense and stride stiff, the other man left the room, closing the door behind him too gently to be anything other than care taken not to slam it.
Smiling to himself, Hojo took out the file in his top drawer and studied the papers. Twins. He would be very careful to ensure both survived, and if all worked out to plan, he would have a steady control by which to gauge the improvements of his project. It would also ensure that there would be a replacement if he made any unfixable mistakes with his active speciman.
And because I've decided to do a November wordcount too...
General fic: 674
NaNo: 3481
All: 4155
And I so suck compared to the word-divas.