#life is hard but Angeal smiling makes it a little easier

[disgorgedfoetus]

OMG Sephiroth's first girlfriend is here!! (They're NOT getting along very well) (Oh. But they will. They will. Trust me.)

[deaddreamweaver]

Blood Of Others

Word count: 2287

Warnings: War themes, injuries, minor character death, mental abuse (?), let me know if other things need to be tagged

Characters: Sephiroth, Angeal Hewley, Genesis Rhapsodos, Hojo

Authors note: This took forever to write but @blccdlet kept me motivated to do this.

Sephiroth's hands fidget around, adjusting the low ponytail his hair was held back in. He pulled it lower, then pushed it back up. He messed with the ends of his hair, already falling to his hips. If it wasn't his hair it was his gloves, tracing the seams carefully, trying to memorize the details of the leather. Leather wasn't cheap. Far from it actually. Why did they chose leather, he wondered to himself. Why was he here? A mission. They were at war of course. A trying time of blood shead on both ends. Sephiroth recalled his debrief before they send him off to war. They were going to a military town in Wutai. They were supposed to take out the main military force. It was supposed to be easy, especially for the mako enhanced SOLDIER.

"I'm doing it for them." The infantry man spoke, holding a photo of his wife and two children.

"How old are they?"

"Five and ten."

The conversation between the men caught the General's attention. It had the seventeen year old tilting his head as he looked at the photo himself. It was odd, to say the least. To have something outside of ShinRa was puzzling in itself. "What are their names?" Sephiroth spoke for the first time since they loaded up for the mission, finally sitting still. It honestly startled the two men who had been conversing of home to have such a high rank speak so commonly.

"Ah...My wife is Marina. This one is Rinku and the youngest is Silfi." The man explained, pointing to each person in the photo. "What about you? If you don't mind my asking, sir."

"My mother's name is Jenova. That's about all I know." Sephiroth stated simply, no remorse for never knowing her. A pang of sympathy fell over the two men as they heard him, though it didn't last long. "They look happy though. It's always good to have something to fight for." The rest of the conversation was lost on him. Nonsensical information is what Hojo would call it.

"If it's not important it is not worth remembering. There is much more you must learn if you are to succeed." Hojo once instructed him. He put so much into making Sephiroth perfect, as if he were trying to rival something, or someone.

_________________

Scouting the town from afar, the young male heard the whispers and hushed voices behind him. Those who doubted him of course. He could see why. Most of these men had been in war zones before. Sephiroth, had not. However he had more training than any man on this field.

"I just don't get why they let a fucking kid into a battle field. I doubt he even knows what he's doing."

"Hey keep it down. He's a First Class he's gotta know something."

"I don't care if he's in SOLDIER he's still a kid. I've got more experience than that brat-"

Clenching his fist, he sucked in a breath before relaxing once again. "It would be easier to focus without your bickering." The General spoke with authority in his tone. He could assume they froze in a panic, unaware he heard every word they had been saying quite literally behind his back. "If you wish, we could spar right now. If you win you can lead the charge. If you loose you go home with a dishonorable discharge. Is that what you want?" The silver haired male turned around, lightly glaring. "I may not be as old as you, but I know exactly what I am doing out here. This is not a game, this is war."

________________

He knew something was off when the village was bare of all life. It didn't make any sense to him, his left hand gripping his blade handle with anxiety coursing through his veins. He wasn't briefed on this. This area was supposed to be full of Wutai fighters yet there's wasn't even a civilian on the street. This wasn't right. That's when he heard it. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

"It's a trap." His blood ran cold. "Retreat imedi-" It was too late, the bombs went off and the entire village went up in flames. He was thrown back and hit his head hard against one of the stone buildings. As much blunt trauma he could take, this hard of a hit had his head spinning and he felt himself blacking out.

He awoke to a burning city. He didn't know how long he'd been out for but he knew he needed to find any men who were trapped in the city. He used the wall behind him to stand himself up. He'd only seen this much destruction in the simulator but actually experiencing it all was almost overwhelming. If he hadn't the determination to save his troops he would have broken down.

Running through the flame kissed city, he noticed the back of his head felt wet, but he payed little attention to it. He managed to get several of his troops out of the city and on the way to safety, his body aching from exertion but he couldn't give up now. He hadn't covered every building, every street. There could still be people in the city. That was what kept his legs steady as he ran back and forth, making sure he could save as many as he could. He was young. He was naive.

Most of his men needed help getting out, some left in pairs telling Sephiroth where others were in the town. Some he needed to personally escort out himself. Any of his men could tell how Sephiroth desperately tried to save as many lives as he could.

That's when he saw a familiar faced trooper. He'd been trapped under burning rubble. This only seemed to motivate him further, pushing his legs to the limit to get there before it was too late.

"Hold on I'm going to l-"

"It's no use, sir. It's the end of the road for me." The broken tone the man held was will shattering, but Sephiroth hadn't given up just yet. That was, until a photo was pushed into his hand. "Tell my girls I love 'em all. Get outta here while you can. You've got big things to do, I can tell."

Sephiroth's shaking hands looked down at the photo. It was the same one from early on in the mission. "I can't- you aren't- I..." He choked on his own words and for the first time his eyes showed weakness. He watched the man die in front of him. His heart pounding in his chest and all these foreign emotions filling his mind.

What was he supposed to do about this? He just watched someone who had been so full of life return to the lifestream. What would become of his family after this? This easily could have been him. Would his body be left behind just as his infentry man? What would happen if he died? Life on Gaia would just continue on without him. Sure people would grieve. However things would just continue on as if he never was a thing to begin with. He couldn't focus, too many thoughts overwhelming him. He couldn't think straight. His mind bouncing from thought to thought.

He stood on shaking legs, pocketing the photo. It felt wrong to leave the man under the rubble but he had little choice in the matter. That's when a familiar voice called his name. At first he didn't hear it, the voice sounded so distant with the screaming in his head. Then is called again, louder this time, breaking the trance he was in.

"Sephiroth!" It was Genesis, one of his dear friends. One of his only friends. He turned to the sound, seeing Angeal not to far behind. They were running to him in a panic.

"We heard the explosion and came as soon as we could. Are you oka-" Angeal's voice trailed off. Genesis had a hand covering his mouth, eyes wide in horror. That's when Sephiroth actually looked at the damaged he had taken.

His uniform was covered in blood, the only reason he could tell in his stark black uniform was the fact that it was clung to his skin and burned. The pain hit him all at once when he looked and his sight blurred, legs buckling but not failing just yet. All this time he never realized he was hurt. He realized why he'd been winded so easily. It was very likely his torso had been bruised, maybe a rib or two cracked. His right side had been torn to shreads from the shrapnel from the bomb and it likely wasn't just that area. How had no one noticed sooner? How had he not noticed sooner? He hadn't been paying attention to how much blood had been his and how much belonged to his injured squad. His entire body ached and he had a no clue how he was still standing. He was easily the most injured aside from the fallen men. He was the closest to the bomb.

His hand moved to his side, touching the blood before he looked at his palm. The blood was a deep red, almost black. Not a good sign. That's when he recalled his head. He'd been bleeding out this entire time. "Huh. That's....not good..." His voice trembled as the realization hit him. He didn't even know how bad it truly had been.

He looked back up to his friends, sharing the same horrified look as Genesis before his legs gave out. The last thing he saw was Angeal rushing over to catch him.

Sephiroth was out before he even hit the ground.

_________________

He woke suddenly, shooting up eyes wide and darting around the room he was in. A sudden flare of pain ripped through him with the motion. The room was white, medical equipment sounded behind him.

"Woah woah hey lay back down." Angeal had been sitting next to him he realized. His body relaxed a moment when he saw his friend at his side. Angeal's hands hover over his chest and shoulder, guiding him back down onto the hospital bed without touching him. He knew his friends' discomfort with contact.

Sephiroth slowly laid back with Angeal's aid. "Genesis has been out pacing in the hallway. He's worried about you. Want me to get him?" Angeal spoke with a low voice, as if not to pain him further having just woken. He gave a small nod in response. A small smile was thrown his way and Angeal stood up and went out to get the other. Genesis was the one to open the door, relief washing over him as he saw Sephiroth. A ghost of a smile showed on Sephiroth's face when he heard the soft 'oh thank Gaia' slip past Genesis's lips. As much of a rivalry they had they did still care for another.

Genesis was quick to sit by his side, Angeal entering and closing the door. Sephiroth noted Genesis's fidgeting hands, holding up his own for him. The redhead hesitated before clasping Sephiroth's hand with both of his own. "I'm so glad you're okay..." Genesis spoke barely above a whisper.

It wasn't long until someone knocked on the door, hesitantly opening it. "General Sephiroth? Professor Hojo wishes to speak with you." Three sets of eyes landed on the woman in a lab coat. One set was hard, glaring even, questioning why this was the time to tell the injured man to get up. Another was neutral, frustrated, but not at her. The last asked a silent question.

"Tell him I'll be there in a moment." Sephiroth spoke up, breaking the silence. The woman nods and quickly fled the room.

"You can't be serious. You need to rest!" Genesis spoke up before Angeal could.

"Genesis is right. You shouldn't be walking around, especially to Hojo."

"I've little choice." Sephiroth was already in the process of getting up, wincing as he did. Genesis went to help but froze mid way through the action. "At least let us help you get there." Angeal said as he saw how shakily Sephiroth was standing.

"Fine..."

_________________

It took some time, needing more help than he'd like to admit, before the three were in front of Hojo's office. His two friends agreed to wait for him so they could help him back. Taking a deep breath, Sephiroth knocked on the door then entered the room. "Professor Hojo, you wanted to see me?"

"I heard about your last mission." Hojo spoke, his voice harsh and Sephiroth immediately knew why he'd been called down here. "That was reckless. Unnecessary even. Their lives are worthless compaired to yours. Do you know how much funds to train would would have been wasted if you died? Worse, what would happen if the Wutai forces found your body?"

Sephiroth's gase fell down, unable to make eye contact any longer. "My apologies. It was the heat of the moment, I hadn't realized that-"

"That you were injured? That they weren't as important as you?" Hojo cut him off. "Please. You were trained better than this. You should know that a petty few infantry men are worthless compaired to you, a First Class SOLDIER. If it wasn't for those other First Class you would be dead even with all your enhancements."

"It won't happen again." Sephiroth muttered, his fists clenched not raising his gase still.

"Look at me while I'm taking to you." Hojo snapped, grabbing Sephiroth's chin and making the silver haired man look up. "Do not let this happen again. I will not be so kind next time. Now go. I have work to do."

[atlaslain]

five times almost kissed 👀

x.     /      @backwaterheroics

i.       missions with cloud are zack’s favourite.  his presence is a thrill of anticipation down zack’s spine, a draw to move into his space and goad him to keep up — the way he always does. the guy’s soldier in every way zack is, except for the mako scorching like fresh lightning through his blood. the way cloud grins at him, crooked and challenging, provokes zack to show off. he’s yet to examine the feeling too closely, because the way it pulls at him is terribly reminiscent of a crush and he can’t go getting one of those one someone he shares assignments with. ( he’ll never make first class if angeal finds out how easily distracted he is by pretty blondes with attitudes. ) 

today’s mission’s protective detail — they’ve collected a case-load of something-or-other for professor hojo to research, and they’re travelling by train back to the shinra building to deliver it. the details, evidently, are classified. zack’s a little put-off by the volume of infantrymen, plus himself, required to guard one simple case. it all goes smoothly ‘til they hit sector four and the train rocks with the force of a controlled explosion. it screeches on the tracks but rumbles on, except now it’s carrying a contingent of wutai troops. zack, somehow in charge here, wants to imagine the shake of his hands is excitement instead of nervousness. he’s never been in charge — he’s only second class, for crying out loud! he doesn’t know what he’s doing! if he gets these people killed…but cloud’s there, nudging his arm in what zack’d like to imagine is solidarity, and he sucks in a deep breath and begins barking orders. they fight off the enemy, riddling the train with bullet-holes in the process. zack and cloud wind up atop the train, back-to-back, wind pummeling them and dwindling wutai troops shooting at them. cloud yells something, half-lost in the noise, about how he always winds up getting shot at when he hangs out with zack. zack laughs, exhilarated, and performs an entirely over-the-top maneuver involving firaga materia and a backflip. he glances at cloud out the corner of his eye, checks if he’s watching. instead, he catches sight of cloud diving toward him — managing, somehow, to knock zack flat to the surface of the train’s roof, avoid the spray of bullets pelting toward him, and shoot the offending enemy troop at the same time. all the breath’s knocked from zack’s lungs. they’ve won, the enemy’s gone, and he’s laying atop a speeding train with cloud still on top of him, breathing hard. fuck, he could kiss him right now. he’d be a distraction — but zack wants cloud to distract him now. can’t stop watching his mouth. he could …but he won’t. shouldn’t. he grabs his phone instead, angles it so they’re both in the shot, and snaps a photo of them laughing in the aftermath of the fight. he’ll blame his not-so-smart urges on the post-battle high.

ii.       the sleepover is unplanned.   cloud just invites himself in, the same way he marched into zack’s heart and stubbornly carved out a space for himself. he plonks himself down on zack’s bed and proceeds to divest himself of weaponry — he’s been on patrol all night, as evidenced by the faint shadows beneath his eyes and the tired roughness of his voice. he should be going to his own room to sleep, but here he is insisting zack needs company and they’re going to talk it all out tonight. zack’s evening plans hadn’t particularly consisted of cloud strife in his bed demanding he cry all his feelings about his dead mentor out, but he guesses he can roll with it. he does crave company: it’s lonely with only his guilt and grief to cling to. cloud showers and then wrinkles his nose at the clothing zack offers up for him: a novelty cactuar shirt and a pair of loose-fitting pants. zack’s heart does little flips at the sight of cloud in his clothing, hair a little damp and sticking to the sides of his face, eyes soft with tiredness and concern. he’s — too much. zack doesn’t deserve this. he shuffles awkwardly to make room on the bed, feels it dip as a warm weight settles at his side. their arms are pressed together. zack, aiming for his usual tactile nonchalance, drapes his legs across cloud’s and pretends it isn’t making his throat tighten up with nerves. “you don’t have to talk, you know,” cloud says suddenly, a departure from his earlier insistence, and zack turns to meet his eyes. “i just didn’t want you to feel alone.”and there he goes again, chiseling out more space for himself in zack’s heart. “then what d’you suggest we do all night?” zack asks, rolling on his side to fully face cloud, and he doesn’t mean for his voice to come out so low and suggestive but it does. it’s not like he hasn’t flirted with cloud before; he’s only human. but that’s casual flirtation, pick-up lines and cheek-kisses, easily mistaken for playfulness — that’s not this, them in a small bed with only thin layers between them and a thousand emotions all stirred up. maybe it’s the light, but he could almost fool himself into believing cloud looks tempted: he’s watching zack with his lips slightly parted, as if deciding how to respond. zack almost thinks they could do this. if he leaned in, if he caught cloud’s lips the way he always wants to, they could… but it’d be wrong. he’d hate himself if it happened this way, if he risked their friendship just because he felt lonely and confused and upset. if he put them on the line just for the sake of propping up his own self-esteem. he’s never wanted to badly to be weak. “sleep.” zack answers his own question roughly, shakily. “we should sleep.” he doesn’t know how to interpret the look that crosses cloud’s face. but he doesn’t leave. that’s what matters. hesitant, zack reaches out for him — arms taking a loose hold and drawing him carefully close. “is this okay?”if they could just … be close, tonight. that’s all he wants. he buries his face in cloud’s shoulder and thinks he finds more comfort in the fingers stroking through his hair than he would’ve if he’d given into the temptation of a kiss. 

iii.       “i hate you so much. you’re such an idiot,”   cloud’s grumbling, and zack grins wider with every word. i’m your idiot, he thinks but doesn’t say — can’t say, really, due to the rather disturbing cocktail of status effects currently bombarding his system. he’s silenced, for sure — cloud keeps insisting he deserves that one and it’s nice to have some peace and quiet. he’s likely confused too, given that he can’t seem to make his body do what his brain wants it to: keeps trying to walk, only to trip over his own feet. eventually, cloud gets tired of it and heaves zack’s arm over his shoulders, half-dragging him out of the malboro nest. zack hiccups and nestles his face into cloud’s neck, flinching against the newest round of poison damage. “just had to get a selfie with the giant malboro!” cloud’s ranting, as they wind their way unsteadily back toward the van. the rest of the troop’s yet to return, but emergency medical supplies should be stocked there. “this is just like that time with the frog! don’t give me that look — you know that was your own dumb fault.” zack mouths ‘sorry’ but imagines he looks rather more amused than apologetic.cloud hauls him into the back of the van and sets him on a bench. zack’s head lolls uselessly to one side. he considers napping, but then cloud’s coming back with his hands full of remedies and potions. he settles at zack’s side and it’s clear in his expression that the force of his anger’s easing back into mild concern. he just about stuffs the remedy down zack’s throat, then has him down the potion for good measure. almost immediately, the status effects begin to dissipate. “i c’n talk again!” he crows, a little slurred and loopy. he grins entirely too widely and slings his arms about cloud’s shoulders, trapping him in a hug. he peppers cloud’s cheek with kisses before he can think better of it. “you always take care of me. y’know i’d do the same for you, right? right?”cloud huffs something affirmative about how zack’s more trouble than he’s worth, but doesn’t wiggle out of the hug.  “i mean it,” zack insists, and plants one last kiss to the very corner of cloud’s mouth. it’s too close for comfort to what he really wants to do. some rational part of his mind says stop, think this through and he pauses, draws back an inch. this feeling is becoming awfully familiar: the sensation of the world slowing while he talks himself down from ruining their friendship. he’s horribly aware of his skin tingling wherever he touches cloud, heat tripping over it like he’s sitting too close to a fire. his heart slams against his ribs. he almost wants to be tired of the way cloud seems to tap into his body’s responses without doing a damn thing, but zack knows he’ll never be sick of this. he grumbles under his breath and draws away.“i mean it,” he repeats. “y’know i love you, right, man?”

iv.       he’s never been scared of dying.   he signed away his right to a peaceful life when they strapped him down for his first mako surgery all those years ago. death was an eventuality, inevitable after a life of pain and blood. he’s just happy he found something worth dying for.it’s nice to see cloud awake again. zack’s missed the colour of his eyes. he’s ghostly-pale and trembling, dirt-caked from dragging himself through the bloodied battlefield to get here, and zack smiles peacefully at the sight of him. he’s alive. he’s going to make it. it’s easier, then, to accept that it’s time to go. ( harder, though, to swallow down the phantom sensation of missing out. he’s not gonna get to be part of cloud’s life anymore, huh? )he doesn’t think he has long left. blood bubbles in his throat when he speaks and the pain of the bullets caught in his bones has splintered off to a numb, detached sensation. ah — that’s a shame. there’s a lot he wishes he had time to say. there’s just enough strength left in him to lift his arm and grasp cloud’s hair, dragging him nearer. zack holds him there and thinks about kissing him. just one kiss to send him off. but cloud looks devastated enough as it is, eyes stretched wide with his horror and the clear understanding there’s nothing he can do. it’d be so unromantic to kiss him now. sheesh. zack fair can’t be remembered as an unromantic kisser! he chokes back a laugh and, hand shaking, pulls cloud to his chest instead. it feels important, somehow, that his last heartbeats be heard. his blood sticks to cloud’s face and hair. you’ll be my living legacy. — yes. the proof he existed. cloud’ll live. goodnight, zack.he doesn’t hear deepground’s helicopters land, nor feel them drag him on board.

v.       he hasn’t wanted to kiss anyone in years.   he thinks deepground deadened that part of him, hollowed him out and left him cold. all he’s wanted is to survive the dark. the opportunity to want someone again doesn’t present itself until after he’s crawled out of there alive, after he’s shakily begun to tread the path toward healing. if deepground was the dark, cloud strife is the storm razing it away.the first time zack sees him again, it doesn’t quite click back into place. he doesn’t think, oh yeah! i’m in love! — because that’ll come later, much later. he just wants to kiss someone for the first time in years. but cloud is distant and unresponsive in his arms, and he shakes like he might fall apart if zack touches him again. so zack doesn’t kiss him. he lets him go.he supposes one day, the timing might just be right.

[azurghost]

@joioliviapolaroid I saw the Sephiroth big-bro anon post and thought of this but I got off track?

-Sephiroth gets sent to Wutai. Its basic hand-on recon, since they've had a hard time getting successful double-agents into the populace the normal way, and they need to make sure nothing drastic has changed in the last few months.

-Gets kicked in the face by a small child almost seconds after stepping off the transport vehicle. The foot is so small its like getting hit by a baseball. All in all, he was expecting worse. It will bruise tomorrow.

-The kid is relentless but hes used to dealing with people like Genesis so this is not really that annoying. At least this girl isn't quoting dumbassery at him.

-After a few hours of shoddy traps, make-shift projectiles and being called a 'stupid poopyhead' Sephiroth actually find himself amused by this. He throws a ration at where he knows she is (shes wearing blue and gold and tried hiding in a mostly-dead bush) and she throws back the wrapper with a rock in it with surprising precision, and if Sephiroth didn't have superhuman reflexed he'd probably have a chip in his eyebrow.

-The entire land is just forests and cliffs. Sephiroth is not used to this. He has pleanty of training and knows how to survive, but he has spent the majority of his life in fully-concrete areas. He can understand how this tiny child is so relentless if she has grown here, even if she hasn't been trained (though he doubts she hasn't been given some training...if not, this kid is a genius). He spends more time learning from observing her than he has in formal instruction class. Hes a bit jealous of how small she is, things would be alot easier if he were than short.

-In a moment of distraction she manages to whip him in the face with a tree branch. Sephiroth doesn't blush but his embarassment is apparent. Shes laughing quietly and he should be man, but he knows he probably looks a mess, his once-pristine hair now full of leaves and thorns. He continues his walk, knowing he will just waste time if he tried to preen. Her giggles bubble up every few minutes just looking at him.

-He makes basic camp after an hour and begings removing the mess in his hair. While hes busy she actually manages to get close enough to try and steal his sword. Shes staring at the sword and he swats her away, and she just look so offended he cand actually contain his laughter as she scurries back into the wilderness. He can see her glaring at him through the leaves as he regains his composure.

-When night is upon them he throws a rolled up blanket in her genral direction with another ration. He wishes he had better food than military rations-maybe theres something he can hunt that won't distract from his mission too long. He managed to react in time to catch the opened ration. She just yells ''gross'' and Sephiroth sniffs it and smiles. Its probably way too bitter for a kid. He looks through his pack and pocks out the same type of ration as the first time and sends it flying without even looking. He gets a ''better'' in response and feels way happier than he expected just from that. Its like feeding a stray cat, except the cat wont stop hissing and scratching.

-He manages to wake up before her (he always wakes up before everyone. His system just doesn't work like a normal person. Hes used to it) and manages to forage food in the general area. Good thing about forgests like these is thats there just a whole buncha stuff to harvest if you know whats what.

-He just leaves it in one of the multiuse bowls at the border of his tiny base. He takes his time to organise his pack and by the time hes done the bowl is empty and he picks it up and leaves. He was honestly expecting to be pelted with the berries at least.

-He was right to expect it. He manages to grab all of them in his fest hand and he can her be both awed and frustrated. He throws them back at her and she flails wildly to not get hit. Shes mostly successful, but one hits her right in the jaw and she growls away for a few hours.

-Sephiroth finds himself more worried about her than his survey. He notices a floor pattern disturbance and picks up a rock then throws it a little further  in front. The entire floor there collapses into a pit. ''Oh come on! That was a perfectly good trap you ruined, idiot!'' He smirked like an idiot as he sideskirts the trap and halfway past the hole he gets rammed right in the ribs by a basketball-sized projectile made of bark and stones and fabric. He stumbles and almost fall, but managed not to. His entire jacket and trousers are now covered in mud and dirt. Comes with the job, I guess.

-Shes gone again. He can feel her glare though, but shes definately upped the stealth now. Hes kinda proud, shes already picked up a new strategy against him.

-He manages to hear quiet zoom the arrow and parries it away with his stupidass sword. As he walks forward he gets short a few times until he sees one section of makeshift path. He knows its a trap. He knows its recent and she made it but oh my god hes not backing down from this challenge. He doesn't know why but it feels more important to beat this trial that whatever he was sent here for.

-She somehow set up a constantly-shooting system along the walls. It takes Sephiroth around ten minutes to pass the trial and he now has a bunch of holes in his clothes and even a few scratches on his hands and face. They're relatively minor- hes lucky this kid is just a kid and not an adult with alot more malice. Surprisingly interesting to go through. Probably could have beat it immediately if he just used materia, but that would have ruined the fun.

-He continues his mission though. Its not a pleasure trip, he cant spend all his time playing games. He wishes he could, and that surprises him. Maybe once he gets back he can...he doesnt know, adopt someone maybe? Or be a mentor to some idiot teen back at home base. Angeal has one of those and he seems pretty happy about it, even if he doesnt try to play it cool and complainy most of the time.

-He manages to fulfil his missions goal while dodging more projectiles and traps. When hes leaving he leaves behind all his rations and a paper with ratings for all the traps and attacks. It feels silly but it would feel weird not leaving any feedback. He hopes this kid has a family or something- shes certainly capable of surviving in the wild, but having a family is probably better. Not that Sephiroth knows what a family is like much.

-Angeal is more than surprised that Sephiroth wants to try being a mentor. Not that Sephiroth hasn't taught recruits, all of them had, it was just very out of the blue for him. ''You went on a recon mission and now you want to be someones dad.'' Despite the taunting, Angeal sets it up for him to get someone with potential.

-They give him Reno. Angeal says ''he kinda looks like genesis is you squint'' Sephiroth doesn't even know what to answer him as he watches the redhead unsuccessfully try and flirt with Angeal's protege, Zack. Hes not sure he knew what he was getting into.

[nikkxb]

A New Role

Final Fantasy VII (mostly Crisis Core) Pairing: AeriSeph Rating: Teen Prompt: From @uchihacollector​ : “AU wish. New fandom, if you are brave: Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core. There is a full HD video of the game (like 3h) on youtube. All the important characters are introduced in like the first 30 minutes. I want to request a Music AU in a big city, of characters YOU like. I think you'll like Angeal.  College AU for @auyeahaugust  Author’s Note:

Listen. It’ll just be easier for us all if you go into this knowing Sephiroth is a little OOC and that I really don’t care. More notes about the AU at the end!

“Again.”

Aeris jerked awake, the echo of his deep baritone rattling around the silent room. It had been two weeks since classes ended and three weeks since his final, but she hadn’t escaped his grasp yet. The dreams didn’t mean anything, just washes of color and different landscapes that didn’t make sense, all to end with her nervous and anxious and waiting for something before hearing his bitter disappointment pull her out of sleep.

She threw off the covers and stalked to the kitchen, looking for peace a glass of water might offer.

Sitting in the small kitchenette, she let the silence of the night embrace her. Being awake at 3:30 in the morning should be a good thing, like coming home late from a party or catching a midnight showing at the theater.

Intense dreams and haunting voices and humiliating memories of repeated failures? Not a good reason to be awake and hopefully, she’d get back to sleep soon. Last time she woke up to his voice demanding perfection, she watched the sun rise. Not this time. Not going to happen again. She was going to finish her water, wash her face, climb right back into bed, and go back to sleep. No way was she going to let him keep the control he somehow held over her.

Aeris downed her glass, sipped a second, then washed the cup and left it in the sink. She took her time washing her face, ears, and neck, and even went further to apply moisturizer and a night cream. She changed into comfortable pajamas, turned the air down low and the fan up high, and crawled under the warm comforters. On her side, head against a soft pillow and her body curled around the sheets, she closed her eyes, slowed her breathing, and banished every thought that wasn’t getting to sleep.

Somehow, she did.

*

“Hey, Aeris! Over here!”

Taking a breath, she made her way through the tables until she found Zack. She knew there was going to be a group – he somehow managed to get her to agree to meet him and “a couple friends” for drinks and she couldn’t get out of it. Sly man knew her work schedule. So she put on a smile and a cool sundress, hoping the comfortable fabric would help keep her at ease with whoever Zack managed to bring out.

She spotted his messy black hair instantly and didn’t look at others until she got closer. A few other undergrads lingered around, but Zack was sitting with three of the TAs. Him being one of them.

Her steps stuttered, but she continued on. She’d had classes with Angeal and Sephiroth, the former being one of her favorites and the latter being an experience she wish she didn’t remember, but hadn’t had Genesis. The guitarist didn’t teach many and instead focused on his own course load. How he managed to foist those responsibilities onto the other two, she didn’t know.

Angeal smiled warmly in welcome, shifting down the bench to offer her a seat next to Zack. She took it, grateful to be sitting between two people she knew, but it put her directly across from that icy green stare.

“Took you long enough!” Zack said before she could open her mouth, his heavy arm draping over her shoulders. “I almost thought you were going to stand me up.”

“Please,” she protested. “You’d just show up at my door and drag me out anyway.”

He laughed and it helped her ease her shoulders. Just a little. If Zack was here and carefree and laughing, she might be able to relax and enjoy herself, too.

“It’s nice to see you out of class, Aeris,” Angeal said from her left and she turned to offer him a smile.

“You, too! Though I’m certain you usually don’t enjoy hanging out with your students during breaks.”

“You’re not my student anymore,” he reminded her. “Not after that perfect score you got on my exam.”

Her cheeks heated, a little bashful under the reminder. She’d studied her ass off for that final.

“I trust you know Sephiroth and Genesis?” he asked, nodding toward the two men across from them.

“Ms. Gainsborough was in one of my classes last semester as well,” Sephiroth answered for her, his deep voice just as captivating here as it was in her dreams. She suppressed a shudder at the idea of adding more statements to pull her out of sleep. “She did rather well.”

Aeris blinked. She did well? According to his demeanor over the last half of the semester, as well as every word, every demand, every bit of attention he’d ever given her, she’d barely scraped by!

Genesis’s chuckle broke her from her surprise. “Seems you enjoy scaring all of your students. You really enjoy making them feel like they’re failing?”

Thankfully, Zack jumped right back in. “Aeris? Fail? She’s the only reason I passed my theory class.”

“No,” she forced, latching onto the new topic with an urgency she tried to hide, “the only reason you passed theory is because Angeal was kind enough to accept your late work.”

A few other classmates took that moment to drop in, finally moving the conversation from her. It was easy to enjoy food and drinks and tales of how others were faring, though it wasn’t easy to ignore the quiet stare from across the table.

He didn’t say anything more and when she left, she gave herself a mental pat on the back for not quivering in her seat.

*

Meeting up with the grad students became a weekly thing. It was apparent Zack had become good friends with them over the last semester and enjoyed hanging out. He seemed determined to rope her into it, too. She tried not to mind too much. It was a nice interlude between the boring summer that was only disrupted by her job on campus.

Angeal had a wonderful sense of humor, something she’d known during classes, but hadn’t been privy to being on the receiving end of. Genesis was just as flighty in real life as he appeared in forums, but the man was still a genius when it came to manipulating the guitar strings. She still couldn’t understand how he heard the hidden keys to perform his runs in, but she definitely enjoyed watching the process. Maybe one day, she’d get him to teach her.

Ha! Maybe.

Sephiroth was still just as much a mystery as he had been during the semester. Quiet and contained, he seemed content to watch her with those eerily bright eyes, letting the silence say all he needed to say. Thankfully, she didn’t get caught under that spell often as Zack kept her laughing. But despite the voice still in her dreams and the memories of his disdain over her failure to master the keys so fresh in her mind, intrigue grew.

A month into their meetups, Aeris was late. Way late. Work had been long and the weather had been terrible and by the time she got home, she needed nothing more than a shower. The hot water had felt better than she realized and forty-five minutes after their usual meet up time, she pulled open the doors to the bar and peeked inside.

For once, the flash of silver hair and searing green eyes had her breathing a sigh of relief. She hadn’t missed them.

As she got closer, she realized it was only Sephiroth at the table, a single glass of amber liquid in front of him. Looking around, she wondered if the guys were at the bar or if they were over playing with the high-tech jukebox, but she couldn’t find them anywhere. Did they already leave?

Hesitantly, she approached the table. She wasn’t certain her company would be welcome if they were the only ones there, but it seemed rude not to check on him anyway. Maybe everyone else was running as late as she.

“Where is everyone?” she asked as she took a seat, ignoring the nerves skittering over her skin.

She’d never get used to the potency of his stare from this close.

Instead of answering, he waved over the waiter and let her place her order. Seemed he welcomed her company even though he didn’t seem to put any stock into it before.

“It appears to be just us this evening,” he finally answered once the waiter left after delivering her drink.

“Really?”

A nod, though not surprising. He didn’t waste many words.

“I’m sorry I’m so late, then.” The cider was clean and crisp on her tongue and just what she needed after such a long day. “I didn’t realize you’d be sitting here alone.”

“I don’t mind.”

She offered a wry smile. While he might not mind his own company, she seriously doubted he didn’t have a problem with tardiness. “I got caught in the rain on my way home from work,” she explained anyway, “then lost track of time in the shower. By the time I realized what time it was, I rushed here as soon as I could.”

Sephiroth watched her in silence, his gaze touching on her wet hair, her makeup-free face, and the clean clothes she tossed on before returning to her own green eyes. “Aeris, I don’t mind.”

Her smile softened, an unsettled quiver running through her at the sound of his voice curling around her name. “Thank you for waiting for me.”

He held up his glass in answer and she clinked her bottle against it. Maybe enjoying a quiet drink with Sephiroth wouldn’t be so bad.

“Did you really believe you were failing my class?” he asked suddenly.

Blinking at him her mind raced, remembering what Genesis joked about that first time. It wasn’t something she expected him to discuss — Sephiroth had a strict stance on his teaching style and it hadn’t been something he hid. She’d known what to expect the moment she received his syllabus.

“It was hard not to,” she answered with a tight smile, a probably failed attempt at laughing it off. “You…you were demanding and sometimes, it seemed like nothing we did would ever be good enough. Not that I think that was necessarily a bad thing,” she rushed to clarify, hoping desperately she didn’t offend him and ruin whatever sort of truce had been built since the end of the semester. “I learned a lot and I know some of those lessons I won’t forget.”

He didn’t respond and she didn’t expect him to, so Aeris filled the silence by sipping more of her cider. It didn’t feel awkward or tense, not like she would have guessed after having this conversation, but Sephiroth was still studying her in that quiet way of his.

“How long have you known Zack?”

Well, that was out of left field, but it was a much safer topic. “Going on three years. I had the unfortunate luck to sit next to him during our first music theory class and he’s stuck by me since.”

“And how long have you been dating?”

She furrowed her eyebrows. “We’re not dating. Haven’t ever dated. He’s just a friend.” Cocking her head to the side, she thought back over all the times he would have seen them together. Nothing jumped out at her that would signal any bond other than a platonic one. “Why?”

Something that looked like satisfaction crossed his features and he waved for the waiter again. “Would you like another one?”

Now he was just messing with her. Sephiroth always left everyone to order their own drinks, but she decided to take the bait. Whatever it was for.

“Sure.”

*

“You really don’t have to walk me home.”

He still didn’t say anything and unlike the beginning of the night, Aeris didn’t mind his silence. Of course, that was probably due to the three ciders with no dinner buzzing around the edges of her consciousness.

“Seriously, Sephiroth, I’m three blocks away. I can make it there on my own.”

Still nothing. Not a single word as he shoved his hands in his pockets and continued escorting her down the sidewalk.

“You usually leave in the opposite direction,” she pushed. “You don’t have to waste your time, it’s perfectly okay.”

That effort to get her way fell flat as he leveled her with a stern stare, not a single pause in his step.

Taking in another breath, she tried a different approach. “Look, it’s really nice of you, but I’m used to it. Zack usually parts ways here and heads on home and it’s really not—”

“Zack lets you walk home alone?” he interrupted and judging from his tone, it was not something she should have told him.

“Sephiroth—”

“For the last month, you’ve been walking home alone?” he asked again, his voice even colder.

“It’s really not that big of a deal—”

“Aeris.”

Her jaw snapped shut, wisely deciding to cease her arguments. There was the tone, the same tone she heard in her dreams. The demand for perfection when her fingers fumbled over the keys or when her hands hesitated just a little too long and knocked off the rhythm. She’d heard that far too many times during the semester over the soft sounds of the piano and she knew better than to argue.

It seemed Sephiroth was determined to see her to her door and judging from the clench in his jaw, he wasn’t going to accept any other option.

They walked in silence, this one more tense than the small ones they fell in at the bar. She didn’t know what to think of this. Was he really that polite? Or worried about her safety? He hadn’t shown anything that would amount to this before, but she wouldn’t lie — it was nice to have the company. Usually, once Zack disappeared, she all but ran the remaining blocks to her building and darted up the stairs to her floor. Having Sephiroth there was…nice.

Which was weird. His company hadn’t ever been a soothing one, nor had she relished all the times he’d stood at her side while she struggled through a new passage. Maybe it was because his displeasure wasn’t directed at her that made it easier for her to enjoy it.

Aeris figured he would see her to the building and be done, but one glance at his expectant face told her otherwise. Pulling out her keycard, she swiped it through the scanner and led them both into the building. It wasn’t terrible to have his presence behind her and for once, she made her way to the elevator instead of the stairwell.

“I usually take the stairs,” she found herself explaining. “It works off some of those calories and I have this super irrational fear of being stuck in one alone, but I’m not alone now and it would be an awful way to repay your kindness to have you climb up six flights unnecessarily.”

He said nothing, though the corner of his lips twitched. She counted that as a success.

The elevator ride was quiet, too, and the floor of her dorm empty when the elevator arrived. She had been lucky to keep her dorm through the summer months instead of moving to a different one, but no one else on her floor had stayed that summer. She hadn’t thought much of the privacy before then, but with Sephiroth still at her side, she was grateful to be away from prying eyes.

“This is me,” she announced, fishing her keys out of her small purse as she came to a stop in front of her door. Fitting the key in the hole, she unlocked the door and finally turned to him. “Thank you for walking me up.”

He didn’t say anything, just continued watching her in that quiet, calculating way of his.

“Sorry for making you walk all this way.” She still couldn’t believe he was standing there in her hallway. “And now you have even further to go before you’re home and you really didn’t—”

“Aeris.”

She grimaced, the sudden softness in his tone exposing how ungrateful she was being. “Sorry! I just— uh…” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

With one last look, she let herself into the apartment, locked the door behind her, and sank to the floor, wondering what on earth just happened.

*

“Sephiroth, you live in the other direction. What are you doing?”

He fell in step beside her again, much to the confusion of the rest of the group, particularly Zack.

“Walking Aeris home.”

Three questioning stares flicked from him to her and Aeris fought not to squirm under the scrutiny.

“You don’t have to, I—”

“Leave her to walk alone,” he interrupted, his tone short.

Damn, Sephiroth was not happy. She knew he hadn’t been content with her answers the last time, but she hadn’t known he would hold such contempt toward Zack about it now.

“Well, I mean, it’s only a few blocks—”

“I am walking her home.”

Silence stretched between them, only amplified when Genesis started snickering. Aeris kept her gaze in the direction of her building, not wanting to see whatever thoughts were flickering across Angeal’s face, and definitely not the contention between Zack and Sephiroth. Finally, something gave and she assumed it was Zack because the three of them began the route to her dorm.

Tension eased as soon as Zack parted ways, hollering a tipsy goodnight and leaving them to their devices. It wasn’t comfortable to be alone with Sephiroth, so very aware of his tall frame beside her, but it wasn’t as awkward as it had been the week before. It seemed she was slowly growing accustomed to his presence.

Into the building, up the elevator — oh, this really was such a relief to use instead of the staircase — and to her door again. Key into the lock and it seemed much less tense than it had the week before. Almost as if she enjoyed his silent company watching over her.

“Thank you for walking me up—”

His thumb and finger gently grasped her chin, angled her face up, and he silenced her with the soft press of his lips against hers. He only touched her in those two places, but heat seared down her body as if he had pressed against her completely.

“Have a good night, Aeris,” he whispered against her lips. His breath coasted her skin in a soft caress before he released her, watched her get safely inside, and then left.

That night his voice floated through her dreams, and for the first time ever since she started hearing him in her sleep, she slept the whole night through.

*

She saw him three more times before he pressed her against her door, then left. Another two times before she invited him in and he pressed her into her sofa, then left again. Aeris didn’t make it two days before she texted him, met him at the door to her building where he pressed her against the wall, the elevator door, and then finally into her mattress, and then he didn’t leave until morning.

Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis are all grad students: Sephiroth and Genesis for Jazz Instrumental Performance (piano and guitar) and Angeal for Music Theory and Composition with an unofficial jazz emphasis. Zack’s undergrad major is Instrumental Performance in percussion and Aeris is Music Therapy. I think. (Honestly, I haven’t given a whole lot of thought to her major, but that really fits her and I like the idea of it. She just excels at theory, so Zack stuck to her like white on rice. Also, Zack’s starting to take up more and more jazz classes, so I think he changed his focus from classical to jazz, too.) 

Angeal’s the best theory teacher the school has. Sephiroth got stuck teaching a piano class and isn’t really happy about it, but did what he needed to do for his scholarship to keep paying out. Genesis somehow finagled his way out of teaching and I think it’s because he forewent the scholarship, paying out of pocket through student loans and money he makes from performing gigs in the city. Or maybe he got the scholarship anyway and plays favorites to the dean. Who knows.

For Aeris’s fear of the elevator -- I think her fear of the sky makes perfect fucking sense in the game considering she’s from the slums and never, ever sees the sky, but I’ve heard a lot of criticism for it. So instead of ignoring it (because really, it makes so much sense and I’ve seen it in people who have never seen the ocean looking at the beach for the first time), I translated it into a silly fear she’s aware is silly because we all have those.

A lot of this is based on my own experiences, though it ends a whole lot better than my real life friend being hit on by our real life TA. Know your comfort, kids! If you’re okay with a former grad student hitting on you during summer when you’re no longer their student, have fun. If you’re not, reject their advances. If they don't listen, buckle down with supportive friends, dig your heels in, and put that grad student in their place. They'll back off. And if they don't, you blast that all over everywhere because the university/college will pay attention to that shit on social media. You’ll be fine, I promise, especially if you have good people at your back.

I wanted to add more to this drabble, but the more I got to know the characters in the game, the more I almost sent Aeris after Angeal because oh man is that boy one fine tree I’d love to climb. But I figured this idea would fit Aeris and Sephiroth best and I like the idea of Angeal getting it on with another grad student while quietly lusting after Zack. Whatever works. 

I’m aware this seems OOC for Sephiroth, but it makes sense in my head. That’s probably due to the large amount of backstory and other scenes in my head that didn’t make it out. HOWEVER this is supposed to be a drabble and it’s already over 3k words, so I tried to cut out everything else and keep it short.

And that’s it for the long author’s note. Let me know what you think!!

[calamitysshatteredson]

NAME OF YOUR MUSE: Sephiroth.  Just... Sephiroth.  (...Or Safay Roth, depending on the verse, because FFXV is still in the process of destroying me and, much like FFVII, I suspect it will continue for the rest of my life.)

ONE PICTURE YOU LIKE:

Everything is fine and nothing bad will ever happen ever.  Smile, Seph.

TWO HEADCANONS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR MUSE YOU NEVER TOLD ANYONE:

He and Nanaki/Red XIII would make great friends.  Given the chance, y’know.  Speaking about philosophy and how weird humans/other people seem.  (...Pretty sure I’ve mentioned this somewhere before, though.)

He finds Brussels sprouts to be personally offensive.  He’ll eat relatively healthy foods for somewhat decent periods of time (so long as there’s always a little something to “cheat” with because life without treats is horrible and pointless, like life without chocolate), and will even eat salad without too much complaint.  Brussels sprouts, though?  Not food.  Not remotely close to food.  Nothing that tastes and feels like that in his mouth can be food, and just seeing them is a personal affront.

THREE THINGS THAT YOUR MUSE LIKES DOING IN THEIR FREE TIME (besides cooking:)

Reading.  Fiction, mostly, but he can actually enjoy research.  If you get to know him really, really well, he’ll admit that he actually quite enjoys fairy tales with some disappointment in what always seems to happen to the monster.

Exploring incognito.  Normally quite difficult, but a hood or a hat and some exceptionally different/ratty clothing does wonders, along with sunglasses.  It’s a lot easier to meander around places that aren’t Midgar, but he’s managed to go unrecognized.

Confusing the science department.  It’s not that hard, surprisingly enough.  Everything from hiding folders to writing incredibly obscure and long-winded reports on materia theory.

SEVEN PEOPLE THAT YOUR MUSE LOVES/CONSIDERS AS IMPORTANT: ( blog-wise)

...Dude there are so many muses and so many verses and so many things set in motion.  See the people I (VERY SLOWLY) RP with?  Yeah, them.  And some more.  Than that.  ...........CHEAP ANSWER STAYS.

ONE OR TWO THINGS YOUR MUSE REGRETS:

“The Unpleasantness”.  Haaaaaaaa.  There’s nothing really glamorous about snapping and killing a bunch of people, and continuously obsessively haunting others.  And, you know.  Almost destroying the planet at the same time.  Some things happened, alright.

Not telling the people he loved that he loved them.  That’s... not  a lot of people, sure, but before all of the horrible things occurred, even directly referring to Angeal and Genesis as his friends was rare.

TWO PHOBIAS/FEARS YOUR MUSE HAS:

Failure. But failing who is usually the interesting thing.  He had a life of following orders, really disliked coming up short or meeting a disappointed stare, but it’s more disappointing himself and his friends that becomes an uncomfortable thought.

Losing control.  Let’s all take a moment to laugh and then immediately recoil in pain.  He’s always had to be so careful.  So.  Careful.  Mindful of every word, every action.  Because if he weren’t and he lost that control, people would get hurt.

TAGGING PEOPLE: Crap crap crap I’m so bad at tagging.  Anyone.  HAVE YOU NOT DONE THIS YET?  DOES THIS LOOK FUN TO YOU?  THEN YOU ARE TAGGED.  Mild failure. TAGGED BY: @ignisxmilitaris (Thank you!)

[up-sideand-down]

Strings of Fate: Ch. 4

Zack gives up on his honor and dreams when Cloud dies on their way to Midgar. However, not everything in the Lifestream intends to stay there. As Zack tries to put his life back together, two of his old friends are planning their own revenge on ShinRa, and death cannot stop them.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 AO3 Link

It had become routine. Zack had started leaving Elmyra’s house far earlier than the other two women rose. He knew it was just safer. He was still a wanted man and he didn’t know if the Turks still kept an eye on Aerith. He suspected it was so, but he had been a good distraction for them. He didn’t want to put her in more danger than he already had. 

Seventh Heaven, while not the most clandestine place, was a small step up. After the first mission, he definitely felt more welcome. Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge all welcomed him. Barret had started using his first name rather than “the new guy”. Tifa, while still awkward and cold, offered him food and drink when she had it. Marlene had stopped hiding behind Barret to ask her if Aerith was coming. He always felt a little guilty when he told her no. 

Zack still blinked when Barret pulled him aside to ask a favor. 

“I’m...sorry?” Zack asked. Barret sighed. 

“Materia,” Barret repeated, “I never learned how to use it.”

“Oh,” Zack didn’t know what to say. Then he had a thought he hadn’t had for a while. What would Angeal do? It hurt less than he thought it would. 

“Well...do you have a bracer?” Zack asked. By the look on Barret’s face, the answer appeared to be no. 

“Let’s go find one,” Zack said, “we might be able to attach it to your arm. You don’t technically need one, but it’s loads easier with one.” Barret listened gruffly...but he listened. 

Zack beamed when Barret cast a weak cure on Wedge, impressed at how quickly he learned. Barret tried to hand the borrowed Materia back, but Zack waved it off. 

“I think most people should have their own Cure,” Zack said, “I’m sure I’ll find another one soon.”

“Thanks,” Barret said, equipping the Materia back into his bracer.

His favorite part was still meeting Aerith at the end of the day. He still wasn’t sure...but her smile seemed warmer, more relieved. 

Perhaps it was all getting better. 

Aerith felt horribly distracted as she tended to her flowers. She knew this morning she could not handle selling flowers today. That, and Zack asked her not to. 

It was another bombing day. Zack had been telling her about it for a few weeks, then Tifa, finally Barret Wallace had come up to her. 

“Tifa wants to come with us this time,” he said, “and...I don’t wanna leave Marlene alone. She’s taken quite a liking to you, and I’m willing to pay-” Aerith quieted him with a touch on his arm. 

“I’d be happy to watch Marlene,” Aerith said. 

She smiled as the little girl, carefully pulled up the weeds around the flowers. She kept feeling like something was about to go very wrong. She kept glancing up at the sky. 

She heard the explosion and her heart rate spiked. It wasn’t until someone horribly familiar fell into the church that she panicked. Marlene screamed when she recognized her. 

Zack stretched his arm out to help Tifa after the Air Buster machine blew up. He was past caring about anyone recognizing him. The catwalk had blown up and she couldn’t reach the top without letting go. He didn’t know if the reactor bomb would reach out here, but he wasn’t going to just sacrifice Tifa just in case. 

He owed her that much. 

The ShinRa helicopter buffeted the air around them, but Zack still reached. 

“Tifa!” he yelled. She looked up at him, then to the reactor, then back. 

“I’ll be okay,” she said, “Tell Barret, I’m going to be fine.”

“No,” he called, “You can make it.” She smiled sadly at him...then she let go.

Aerith ran over to Tifa. She was still alive...but she didn’t know how hurt she was. Marlene wept over her body. Aerith felt for a pulse. 

“She’s gonna be okay,” Aerith said, “Marlene, she’s going to be fine, just...” Already the wind was coming up through her. Marlene watched her with wide eyes. The world tinged green for a moment and leaves and petals whipped around them. 

Aerith took in a breath as the wind pulled itself around Marlene and Tifa, not knowing which person Aerith meant to heal. 

The moment it died down, Tifa sat up with a groan and a heavy cough. 

“Tifa!” Marlene cried and jumped on her. Aerith heaved a sigh in relief. 

Zack hung his head when he told the others about Tifa. Barret was the one who finally touched him. He gave Zack a light shove 

“Hey,” he said, “If she said she’s gonna be fine, then she’s gonna be fine.” 

Tifa coughed and held her head when Marlene jumped on her. 

“Marlene, don’t jump on her.”

“Tifa! Tifa!” Marlene cried, “You’re okay!” 

“Wha?” She looked around Aerith’s church, wondering how on Gaia she got here of all places. 

“You fell through the ceiling and...and you weren’t moving, than Aerith prayed for something...and you woke up!” Marlene said. 

“Marlene, let her take it easy,” Aerith said. Tifa looked up at her, rubbing at her head. 

“Are you okay?” Aerith asked. 

“Yeah,” Tifa said, “Yeah, I think so.” She stood up, stretching out. Everything seemed to be working and in the right spot. 

“Sorry...about the flowers,” Tifa said. 

“It’s okay,” Aerith said, “They might bounce back. I’m just glad you’re alright.” Tifa nodded. 

“The others should have made it,” she trailed off when she looked towards the entrance. Aerith looked over at Reno...and the troopers he brought with him. Goddammit, this was not her day. 

“Sorry yo,” Reno said, he at least had the decency to look upset about it, “hate to break up a party.”

“Take Marlene to the back,” Aerith said, “I know a way out.”

Zack couldn’t stay with the others. They were talking about trying to find out how ShinRa knew which reactor they would hit. Something about a guy in Wall Market. Zack would get a re-cap later. 

If Tifa was...then...Zack blamed himself. Could have tried harder to reach her. Could have jumped down to try and boost her up. 

He knew the others would hold out hope until the truth stared them in the face. Luckily for him, the truth landed directly on top of him. 

Aerith high-fived Marlene after she pushed over a barrel that took out a trooper and let her run up to the second story. Tifa made short work of her own trooper and followed them up to the rafter. Tifa saw the hole they were going towards. 

“Really?” she asked. Aerith smiled at her apologetically. 

“That’s the hole Zack fell through,” Aerith said, “We can get out on the rooftops.”

“Have you done this before?” Tifa asked. 

“Umm...no?” Aerith said, “but do you have a better idea?” Tifa paused then turned to Marlene. 

“Climb on my back sweetheart,” she said, “and hold on tight.”

The roofs were surprisingly even and sturdy. There were only a few jumps that made Tifa nervous, but the rest were easy peasy. 

Then she slipped...and landed on someone. She started to apologize and then she heard Zack’s voice say. 

“Oh thank the gods you’re alive.”

Zack did not take the news that the Turks had come into the church very well. He refused to leave the girls alone, so the all walked together back to Sector 6 and Elmyra’s house. Marlene gasped when she saw Aerith’s garden at home. Aerith laughed. 

“I thought you might like it,” she said. 

Elmyra stopped in the doorway and shook her head when she saw all of them. Aerith laughed at her expression as she led them inside. Zack had asked Tifa if she was okay 6 times so far. 

“I told you,” she said, “I’m fine.” 

“But its-” Zack started. 

“You know how much of a cushion those flowers give,” Tifa said with a smirk. Zack closed his mouth. 

“She told you about that huh?” Zack said sheepishly. 

“It’s one way to make an impression,” Aerith said. Tifa snickered at that. Elmyra was busy getting acquainted with Marlene. Aerith had them all sit at the table and they began to get the whole story straight. 

“So...we should find out how ShinRa knew which reactor you would attack,” Aerith said. 

“We?” Zack said, “Aerith, I don’t think-”

“Zack,” Aerith said, “this isn’t the first time the Turks have come for me. The safest thing for me to do...is not be where they think they can find me...that means I’m coming with you.”

“You’re better off not arguing,” Elmyra told him gravely. Marlene was having the time of her life learning how to make cookies. 

“Don Corneo,” Tifa said, “We know he has ties to ShinRa...and we think he’s the main leak for a lot of anti-ShinRa groups. We can use him to get dish on ShinRa...if we’re careful. He’s always in that mansion in Wall Market”

“Alright then,” Zack said. It sounded pretty easy. 

“One problem,” Tifa said, “It’s hard to even get inside...except if you’re a pretty girl. He has a...little deal going on that girls who sleep with him can get...a lot of money. He picks just one out of all the girls who show up.”

“You’re not going in there alone,” Zack said. 

“I’ll go with her,” Aerith volunteered. 

“No,” Zack said. 

“What else are we going to do?” Tifa asked, “No offense Zack, but you’re not exactly pretty...or female.” 

“Well...” Aerith said, “he only has to look that way.” Zack did not like the look on her face. 

“This is a fucking perverted scavenger hunt,” Zack said when he stepped out of the Honey Bee Inn. The men around Aerith dispersed. She was busily counting a lot gil as he approached. 

“What were you up to?” he asked. 

“Selling flowers,” she said innocently. He held out the underwear he’d procured, but she refused with that same damn smirk on her face. 

“Too big for me,” she said, “must be for you.”

“You both are really lucky I like you a lot,” Zack grumbled. 

“Come on,” Aerith said, “Tifa got the dressmaker back. He’s pretty excited to make yours.”

Tifa was already dressed, tugging at the hem that looked as short as it probably felt. She looked good though. 

“You’re turn,” Aerith said pushing him into the dressing room. Zack glared at the purple monstronsity waiting for him in there. 

At least it wasn’t as itchy as it looked. 

“Where are we putting our real clothes?” Zack asked. 

“There’s a bag in there,” Tifa called. 

“Where’s the wig?” Zack asked. 

“Here,” Aerith started. Zack stuck his arm out before she could open the sheet. 

The girls looked far too excited to see him emerge. 

“Damn,” Tifa said, sounding impressed. 

“You look so pretty...Zacaria.” Zack shook his head at them. 

“You know what, man,” Zack said glaring at the sad excuse of a human being on the bed, “you have terrible taste in women.” He was not expecting to be the one picked. He didn’t look that pretty, right. The words Don Corneo had used was “healthy looking”. 

He squirmed around on the bed as Zack, Aerith, and Tifa surrounded him. 

“Talk or I’ll cut them off,” Zack said. The Don told them ShinRa knew where Barret’s hideout was

“You’ll talk,” Tifa said, “or I’ll smash them.” She cracked her knuckles as she leaned forward. The Don admitted he told Heidegger.

“You’ll talk,” Aerith said, coldly, “or I’ll rip them off.” And then they all knew ShinRa’s plan. They were going to drop the plate at Sector 7. Tifa looked to Zack, looking worried. 

And then Don Corneo pulled the lever and dropped the floor on them. But Zack didn’t care, they had bigger worries. 

“Hey,” Zack said, catching up to Aerith, “That was some act you had in there.” 

“Who said it was an act?” Aerith said climbing through the broken trains. 

“You know...I am now madly in love with you.” She shook his head at him and caught up to Tifa. 

“Hey,” he said to Tifa, “If we don’t hear fighting, it’s a good thing.” She nodded back at him, but still moved forward. They had to make it. 

He had arrived at Midgar. Within a few minutes he had killed a Shinra worker and taken his ID. His eye was on the tower. He humphed at it. There was more security here than he remembered. 

Have more patience, Cloud.You merely require some sort of distraction to gain entry inside. 

“I know,” he hissed. Invisible fingers threaded through his hair ever so gently, teasing him with how close to his goal he was. He couldn’t run out of time now. He was so close. 

We will succeed Cloud. Mother is here, once you have her, we have won. 

“Then I’ll have to have a plan inside,” he said. 

You learn fast Cloud. 

“I learned from the best,” Cloud replied. The vibrations in his body felt like laughter. The clone’s body knew reunion was close, it was making the messages clearer and clearer. 

He stayed near the tower, watching people come in and out with nothing but utter contempt. 

That is...until he saw the people who would help him get inside.