#((Lazard's less desperate so less likely to make EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS))

[calamitysshatteredson]

What if Lazard never kept any secrets from Sephiroth, neither of his past, nor of his future plans?

Lazard finally surrendered with a grumble, removing his glasses to rub his tired eyes. They'd been at it for hours again, going through paperwork, records, comparing sources for every little hint of where President Shinra's money was going. One of many things they needed to be fully aware of before they could act. Determined though he was, and even with the help who was keeping him company on the other sofa while making notes in a good old-fashioned paper notebook, he was only human. The thought made him chuckle quietly.

"Mm, it's past 2:00 AM." Sephiroth informed him, glancing up. "Should get to bed."

Slipping his glasses on again, the director opened his mouth to argue, but one tiny raise of a single silver eyebrow silenced it. He had to laugh quietly at that as well, carefully closing folders full of photocopies and saving files on his private laptop. "I suppose I haven't your stamina."

"Not in matters of being able to stay awake for days, in any case." Sephiroth deadpanned, closing his own notebook with a decidedly final thwap of pages. "There's time. We agreed to pace ourselves so we don't miss anything."

"And this is the third night this week we're up this late, I know." Lazard stretched his arms over his head. "We're both awful at this pacing ourselves thing."

"Speak for yourself." The SOLDIER teased again, finally getting up and walking over to sit at Lazard's side, helping to re-organize the paperwork into the system they both knew so well. "Genesis says there's no movement in any particular direction amongst the other Firsts yet, and Angeal's-- A little less grumpy than usual."

The blond rolled his eyes, apparently using the movement as excuse enough to roll right into Sephiroth's side. "We've yet to uncover who's been funding the terrorist group, however. That's one piece of information I'd prefer to have before we expose Shinra to the world in full."

"Not to stop them, I assume." Sephiroth ever so gently plucked the computer from Lazard's grasp before he could think to go over his notes again. It was late, and despite being able to go without sleep for long periods of time, he very much preferred not to.

Huffing at the laptop grab, Lazard didn't make any particular move to fight it. "Could be an ally. And we could use all that we can get."

The SOLDIER hummed agreement, giving the matter another moment's thought before dismissing another hour spent awake. "Come on, to bed with us. We both have to be at the office bright and early, and looking like we haven't spent the night on the same couch."

"We haven't." Lazard protested; and protested further with a grunt when Sephiroth finally stood up and offered him a hand, but accepted. "We got nothing done that night."

"Not quite true." He knew that if he hadn't been holding the blond's hand, he'd have gotten not-entirely-gently punched in the arm.