[It doesn't take more than a few moments of locking eye contact with Luffy that Sephiroth realizes that the young man before him has certainly changed in the months that they've been here. Sephiroth's too, though there is forever the stern confidence that comes along with his strict discipline in himself, hide many insecurities. His eyes reflect hardly any trace of the glow that they once held and if it wasn't for his striking slitted pupils and thick black eyelashes it's likely they'd get lost in his face being as pale as he is.]
Hm.
[It's all he could do but to watch the pirate as he picked up a rock from the ground and eventually hurled it at a still-damaged part of the plaza. Carefully inspecting body language as if he might be able to read what Luffy were getting at before he said those words.
Sephiroth manages to catch himself, just about, from reacting with a recoil to the gaze that comes with that sharp question. Thin silver eyebrows furrow as the Major has to quickly gather his thoughts into a reply. It's a few short moments before he takes a deep inhale and speaks.]
This...you think that this is being a Hero?
[He shrugs, as if to indicate to himself; his position in uniform, his reputation throughout the wider world especially in the wake of the Battle, his knocked self-confidence that he probably noticed more than other people did.]
This isn't being a Hero, it's farthest from it.
[And how he hates it, the bitterness is clear but Sephiroth can't be anything but honest with Luffy. It wouldn't be in his nature to be anything else.]
(i)Around the City [Sephiroth / Open]
Hm.
[It's all he could do but to watch the pirate as he picked up a rock from the ground and eventually hurled it at a still-damaged part of the plaza. Carefully inspecting body language as if he might be able to read what Luffy were getting at before he said those words.
Sephiroth manages to catch himself, just about, from reacting with a recoil to the gaze that comes with that sharp question. Thin silver eyebrows furrow as the Major has to quickly gather his thoughts into a reply. It's a few short moments before he takes a deep inhale and speaks.]
This...you think that this is being a Hero?
[He shrugs, as if to indicate to himself; his position in uniform, his reputation throughout the wider world especially in the wake of the Battle, his knocked self-confidence that he probably noticed more than other people did.]
This isn't being a Hero, it's farthest from it.
[And how he hates it, the bitterness is clear but Sephiroth can't be anything but honest with Luffy. It wouldn't be in his nature to be anything else.]
This is doing what needs to be done.