"Sephiroth? Wake up."

Sephiroth groggily opened up his eyes to a blond head and warm eyes looking down on him. "Come on. Hurry." He felt warm hands gently push him up from his bed, one hand cupping his head. "Hurry up and get dressed. We have to go."

"Dr. Strife? What's going on?" He quickly sat up, a small sense of dread filling him. "I didn't think we had any examinations set up for today…" He got out of bed and put on the standard white shirt and pants put forth by the Doctor.

"There's not anything set up for today. We're just going on a small trip." Dr. Strife was visibly jitty and Sephiroth couldn't help but notice his shaking hands as he helped him put on his shoes. "Would you like to go outside, Sephiroth? Didn't you say you wanted to see the sky?" Although his voice held the usual warmth they always did when he spoke to him his attention was divided between Sephiroth, the camera in the corner of the room and the door on the other side.

Sephiroth had been instructed that he could never leave his room without permission from Professor Hojo, so he'd pretty much given up all aspiration of going outside. Aside from his previous moment of weakness where he had discussed with Dr. Strife how he really wanted to see the sky, and if it truly was as blue as all the books he had read said it was, he didn't think he would ever really get the chance to actually do so. He mostly engaged in such a conversation because he wanted to continue talking to Dr. Strife. Before and after each examination Sephiroth would be lead back and forth to his room where on the way he got to talk to the Doctor and ask as many questions he wanted without being reprimanded for not knowing something or simply- well- asking too many questions. The short time he was allowed to spend with Dr. Strife was definitely his favorite.

"Professor Hojo said I'm not allowed." He said confusedly looking up at the Doctor.

Dr. Strife smiled at him and took hold of his hand. "Yeah, well, Professor Hojo is regrettably away on important business in Midgar right now, so we unfortunately won't get the chance to ask permission." The words was spoken with a bitter hint of satisfaction.

They walked through the door, leaving behind the white room adorned with only a bed and a bookcase filled to the brim with books he'd read more than a hundred times each. Sephiroth felt no need to look back. They walked through white corridor after white corridor pipes and wires draped along the walls making them distinguished from one another, and it wasn't long before Sephiroth didn't recognize the hallway they were walking trough. He mostly kept up with Dr. Strifes fast pace, movements so high-strung he almost made Sephiroth stumble a few times when dragging him. The Doctor gave him a tense apologetic smile when it happened, but rather than slowing down only hurried his steps.

Sephiroth wanted to ask if something was wrong. Dr. Strife had only ever treated him gently and carefully every time they had been together. Never rushing him into anything, even when he deliberately slowed his pace when walking to and from examinations so that he'd be able to spend some more time with the Doctor, he had always had a soft smile on his face while looking at him. Sephiroth had never seen him this uneasy before. It made him nervous.

Dr. Strife froze mid stride when he heard footsteps approaching them. Sephiroth's anxiousness only grew, they were definitely doing something they weren't supposed to do. Dr. Strife turned to him and gently picked him up, placing him on his arm as he backed away into another hallway. Sephiroth had never been handled like that before, the most human contact he ever had is someone accidentally brushing against his skin while preparing him for injections or patting him awake if he'd fallen asleep on the examinations table. So when he felt Dr. Strife lift him up his body automatically locked up. Dr Strife noticed and sent him a small, sad smile. Sephiroth forced himself to relax, he'd rather not see that kind of expression on the others face.

The footsteps passed them and only when they turned the corner down the hall did Dr. Strife continue on his way, lightly jogging now with Sephiroth sitting in his right arm and his left supporting his back. Sephiroth twinned his small arms around the Doctor's shoulders, placing his face in the crook of his neck. Dr. Strife didn't smell like the other doctors or scientists and he definitely didn't smell like processed mako like Professor Hojo did. Sephiroth couldn't quite put his finger on it but Dr. Strife had more of a fresh smell to him. The kind one couldn't get from soap, but rather something that's seeped into his clothes, skin and hair. Sephiroth imagined that's what the outside smelled like, and it rekindled his longing to see the sky.

He felt his stomach churn. "Are we really going outside?" His hopeful tone apparent to the ears. He felt an unfamiliar stinging sensation in the back of his eyes and decided to ask Dr. strife if there was something wrong with them once they had more time.

"We sure are." Dr. Strife was breathing heavily while trying to even out his voice. "Right now we're sitting right in the middle of a big mountain, you can see quite clearly for miles on end." He could hear the smile in the other's voice. "Endless green forests and an infinite blue sky spanning as far as the eyes can see. The world is a big place Sephiroth. I can't wait for you to experience it." Sephiroth couldn't help but smile at that. If this was one of his more bizarre dreams, he hoped he would never wake up.

He let out a small whisper of "Thank you." and closed his eyes, patiently waiting for the time to come.

Dr. Strife tightened his hold on him before he skidded to an abrupt halt, jolting Sephiroth in the process.

"It would seem that I was right to speculate that one could not trust you." The horrifyingly familiar voice said in a mocking tone. Sephiroth wanted to turn around and look, but the Doctor's hand held him tightly making him unable to even turn his head. Dr. Strife's breath staggered as he angled Sephiroth away from the new arrival.

"Professor Hojo, I thought you were in Midgar until further notice?" His breath was shaking, and Sephiroth suspected his arms would be too had it not been for the fact that he was clutching on to him with so much strength.

"You really must take me for a moron if you thought I'd fall for that forged message." Professor Hojo snorted. Loud footsteps emerged from every direction and in a blink of an eye they were surrounded by both people with guns aiming at them and angry looking scientists in white garb. "You truly have a lot to learn if you thought you could pull one over on me, boy"

"He can't continue living like this, Hojo."

"He will continue living however I see fit." Hojo sneered. "Sephiroth, come."

Sephiroth turned his head to look at Dr. Strife, a questioning look in his eyes, but Dr. Strife steadily kept his gaze on the man in front of him.

"Sephiroth, it seems like my teachings haven't fully stuck with you yet. Perhaps punishment is in order."

Sephiroth froze. He had been fully familiarized with Professor Hojo's punishments. And it didn't feel like it should be called 'punishment' as much as it should be called torture.

Dr. Strife's hold on him slackened, and he managed to push himself out of his arms. Sephiroth didn't look back as he walked the short distance to the Professor, but he felt his heart tighten as he let go of the small shrill of hope in his heart.

"Sephiroth." Dr. Strife's voice cracked as he tried to call him back.

Professor Hojo put a hand on his shoulder and started to lead him back through the intricate hallways towards his bland room. "Take him to laboratory 3."

"Sephiroth. It's ok. Everything'll be fine." Sephiroth slowly turned his head, his eyes landing on a blond man on his knees, three men in black held his arms behind his back. Compared to the larger than life man with warm eyes and a kind smile, this one seemed so... small, surrounded by tall people holding him down. "It's gonna work out, ok? You don't need to worry about anything." he said, his voice wavering slightly towards the end.

Sephiroth cast one last look at his warm blue eyes, then turned around and was lead back to his room that seemed to be a little darker than before.