Love on the Battlefield
Chapter 1

"I have to do what?!" Soldier 2nd Class, Zack Fair yelled.

"You are to go deep into Wutai to find a supposed fortress that holds a great majority of their weapons alongside General Sephiroth," Soldier Director, Lazard, explained once again.

"And why me, specifically?" Zack put on hand on his hip not sure why he was the one being chosen for all this.

"Angeal already has a mission that need I remind you, you declined to go on. And as you should know by now, Genesis has deserted from Shinra. The other 1st Classes are not compatible with Sephiroth. You are the only logical choice that I have at the moment." Lazard looked down at the stack of papers on his desk.

Zack ran his hand through his undone black hair with a sigh that just didn't seem to be possible for him. He did want to go to Wutai to help his fellow Soldiers with the war. However to be with Sephiroth, that was like Soldier suicide. That guy was the Great Silver General of all of Shinra. Please if you got stuck with him on a mission as anything other than a 1st Class, you were almost doomed.

"You are dismissed 2nd Class Fair," Lazard made a shooing gesture with his hands.

The young Soldier gave a salute to his Director holding back another sigh. He walked calmly out of the briefing room biting down on his lip. Kunsel might be excited to hear about his newest mission, as he usually is happy to hear about them. Zack, however, he didn't like it one bit. This was a set up for him to fail and stay as a 2nd Class forever.

He passed by black leather and long silver hair as he walked through the hall to the elevator. It took his mind a minute to realize that he had just passed the general, Sephiroth himself. By looking at the slim almost feminine face, he could see that the man didn't seem to be in a good mood either. Great, now Zack really didn't want to go on that mission with the General.


(Zack's POV)

Kunsel was sitting on my bunk, looking very eager to know what Lazard had summoned me for. I really didn't want to talk about what I had just gotten myself into. Then again, anything that dealt with Lazard and Sephiroth wasn't something he wanted to talk about. I was going on a mission with the Silver General! I would prefer Angeal, since he's my mentor and all, or hell even Genesis (even though he's a deserter). Lazard didn't like me to do something like this, I swear he didn't.

I'm actually surprised that Lazard hadn't said anything about me not wearing the standard Soldier helmet. While I'm at it, my uniform is actually a couple shades darker than that of a normal 2nd Class. I wonder if that's a sign about everything that happened today. Maybe it was a way for me to straighten up to become an ideal Soldier used to market to kids.

I ran my hand through my hair with another one of my strange sighs. I had to get ready so I really didn't have time to talk to Kunsel even though I wanted to. When have I ever just done something without talking? Yeah I was going to talk to Kunsel anyway. He was my best friend, often times my only friend while I'm here, and he was going to find out about this in some strange way in the end. So why not from my mouth?

I looked under my bunk for all my Materia and accessories so that I could see which ones I could use. A good Soldier never leaves without being fully prepared for any and everything. I probably had a Phoenix down hidden away under all the weird stuff that I collected to be used on a mission. I don't even remember getting a Manipulate Materia. I wonder if I could get it to work on the General. That was probably the stupidest idea I have ever had the pleasure of thinking up. After, eventually, finding everything, I sat on the floor of the dorm with my head in my hands. Only a whole thirty minutes until I had to go to Wutai, again. However this time, with a man that scared more people than those that admired him.

"What's wrong, Zack?" Kunsel asked.

"Switch me missions," I muttered.

If Kunsel didn't like to wear that stupid helmet, I swear I would have seen his eyes widened. "Excuse me? What did you say?"

"I said, switch me missions, Kunsel. I would love to find that anti-Shinra reporter that's running around Midgar," I said a bit louder than my previous mutter.

"Another scouting mission in Wutai? Man that must be sucking with your abundance of energy," he chuckled softly.

"No. I'm just working with Sephiroth to do something in Wutai. So in other words, I'm being tested for my competence in Soldier."

Kunsel held me tightly, something I wasn't counting on or even expecting from him. I guess he understood the frustrations that I was going through a lot better than I had originally thought. He was my best friend for a reason that wasn't just we've been sharing the exact same bunk and dorm since we first came to Midgar. I sighed softly and moved closer into his embrace.

I could have stayed like that for far beyond forever, having Kunsel hold me and stroke my hair. Yet, I couldn't do that, no matter how much I wanted to. I had to be at the helipad within fifteen minutes for a mission I didn't want to do. The elevator ride alone was at least eight minutes on a good day. And I knew that today was anything but a good day.

Ten minutes later, I had finally got off the elevator holding onto my duffel bag tightly. Sephiroth was already on the heli-pad and he seemed much more annoyed than earlier. I could feel my own demise coming much sooner. Great…like I wanted to go to the Lifestream sooner than possible for me.

My Soldier duffel bag felt none existent as I looked into the jade eyes that spelled death to anyone that dared look into them. I knew only what he could do to me, not what he would even think about doing to me. It was then that I felt fear for the first time in my short life. I've killed plenty of people and monsters. However looking into his eyes said something else entirely.

The pilot called for us to come in and I was frozen in place by my fear of the General. Sephiroth entered the helicopter first, showing nothing on his face beside annoyance from this. I started walking when he was out of sight and hopefully out of mind. Like he would ever get out of my mind.

I sat down in the sear next to the Silver General, hoping he wouldn't notice me. His eyes gave a glare that said not to mess with him. I wasn't going to mess with that man at all, like why I would even think about doing something like that. His glare however…it told me not to even talk to him about the mission. Why we were even put together for such a mission? Oh right, Lazard is an ass and he wants to see me fail out of Soldier quicker than Angeal became my mentor.

The helicopter lifted off and I found myself trying to hold onto my breakfast plus the dinner from the night before. I hate helicopters, especially the cheap ass ones that Shinra loves to use for missions. Damn this made me sick and always, always had to blow up. I think that's what makes my stomach so sick, thoughts of blowing up on these cheap ass things. Great now I had to worry about not crashing. Stupid cheap helicopters and Shinra's inability to try to make them better and safer.

Sephiroth growled at me the moment I closed my eyes. I couldn't care what he thought of me, I got airsick on these damn things. Something touched my hand gently, and squeezed it once we took off. It must have been his hand. It was soft and warm; he must have taken off his gloves to be a bit more comforting.

The touch made me shudder some reason or the other. I guess I was a little excited by the warm touch on my now frozen hand. I usually don't like men, but Sephiroth…his beauty was way too hard to just leave to one gender. I've always loved the way he looked but his actions and personality made me dislike him. At least Genesis had a cold and noble beauty to go with his snobbish and cold attitude.

I opened my eye, hoping that I wasn't blushing at the feel of his warm and soft hands. By the Goddess, the look he was giving me was almost priceless. His eyes seemed soft and filled with concern over my sickness. They were on unbelievable shade of green that I had gotten lost within them. My air sickness and fear of him just seemed to melt away at his beautiful eyes. How could that have happened to me?

I smiled gently at him and felt my face heat up in the inevitable blush I had from him. He released my hand, crossed his legs, and growled at me as if nothing had happened between us. I almost whined like a little puppy because he decided to ignore me. Depression kicked in almost instantly and I felt my stomach go insane as my panic attack of helicopters came back. I gripped my seat tightly hoping that everything would be fine. I needed something to help me feel better and not want to puke forever. I wanted Kunsel to comfort me.

Wutai was one beautiful country with all their trees and flowers. Gongaga had some while Midgar had nothing at all besides smog. We landed and I got out the helicopter as quick as I could. I kissed the ground happy that I was finally out of that metal flying death trap. You know what happened next? The damn cheap ass helicopter decided to blow up!

Sephiroth walked up beside me; apparently our great Silver General was still alive without even one scratch on him. Maybe I was harboring a little malicious emotion towards him, but I was glad he was okay. If he had died, I would have felt miserable. Lazard and the President would definitely find a way to get rid of me.

"It seems that our way home is gone," he stated the serious obvious.

"Yeah," I muttered.

"Our phones should have no signals here," Sephiroth looked around the area.

"Yeah," I sighed not even looking up.

"We need to finish our mission, however. Then we will figure out what else we should do."

"Yeah…"

"…Are you coming, 2nd Class Fair?"

I had been too busy looking at the wreck of the helicopter and the ground; I hadn't noticed that the General had moved. Of course, his sarcastic tone would make me realize that he was already walking. So I stood up and followed after him with my duffel bag secured on my shoulder. I felt like such a little puppy following after him. Stupid mission!

We continued walking until we found a creek. I dunno' about him, but I was thirsty beyond belief from our walking. The unnatural heat from the jungle like environment had me sweating so much my clothes were sticking to my body. I just wanted to get into Wutai, find the fortress, and get out this country. Wutai was just too damn hot right now. How do the Wutains handle this kind of heat? The clothes that they wear should have them dead from heat exhaustion.

Sephiroth would periodically look back at me during the time that we were walking. I don't think he knew that I was following behind him, probably used to having 1st Class in front or beside him. He would sneer, turn around, and walk even faster as if trying to get away from me. It was so annoying. He didn't even like me and yet he would act like it only to get mad at me in the end.

"Hurry up, Fair," he sneered at me again as I was getting water.

"But its sooo hot…I wanna' drink some more, General Sephiroth," I replied.

Sephiroth growled again and grabbed me by my collar in anger. I thrashed about as he was gripping my collar harder. Why was he being so much of a bitch today? Usually he's in a hurry to do missions, but will allow the others to have some sort of comfort.

"We are going to finish this mission with the three days allotted. You have had enough water for the next eight hours if your bladder will allow it," Sephiroth dragged me through the cold dirt.

I wanted to argue with him about all of this. Yet I found no voice for my thoughts even though I was known for speaking my mind. I felt undoubtedly pathetic because I wouldn't do anything about this. I never held my tongue for anyone for any reason.

I got out of his grip and I started walking in front of him. I wasn't even able to get a canteen of water to go through the day. He was starting to severely piss me the hell off! But when I looked back, and into his eyes, I saw something different. I saw the look of a person filled with nothing but sadness. Wow, this guy has so many mood swings.

And then there was rain. The jungle was just pissing me off more and more along with Sephiroth. I had a General that was going through mood swings and an overly hot jungle that decided this was a good time to start raining. I let out a yell in frustration, wanting to go back to boring old Midgar.

Sephiroth grabbed me by my collar as I started going into a darker, more tree dense region of the jungle. I turned back to look at him. His eyes looked at me filled with a bit of concern. What was with his mood swings? Ugh…

"Quick sand," Sephiroth said.

"Are you serious?" I screamed out.

"Yes. Why would I be anything but serious?"

"Good point, General."

We started walking in another direction. As we continued walking, it started to rain harder than before. I don't know if you know this, but Soldier uniforms are not made for when it rains, as it never rains in Midgar. I was shivering and holding onto my arms, wishing that I could warm up quickly. Like my helicopter wish, I just knew that it wouldn't come true.

I pointed out a cave about three hundred meters away. Warmth was all that I could honestly think about at that moment. Well that and food, possibly even some sleep. I almost ran off to the cave, forgetting that Sephiroth was behind me. I had to control myself for Sir Mood-Alot.

Finally, after twenty-six minutes, most of it was me begging with the General, we were in the cave. I sat down as far as I could in the back and shivered. Man it was so cold. The warm…hot jungle was way better than this.


(Sephiroth POV)

I had found some wood to create a small fire to be able to warm up the cave. I watched as Fair settled in the back shivering like a small child. He looked so cute, and almost perfect. Something about that boy.

I love him, from the tip of his pretty wild, black hair to the tips of his tanned toes. His deep blue eyes always filled with happiness, his smile that showed life and a voice from the Gods themselves. Yet, he was whoring himself out to that strange flower girl in the slums and Kunsel. I hated them—I hated him for being with them. Even if it were Angeal or Genesis, even Lazard, I would hate him for whoring himself out.

Fair needed to warm up, and fast. I could see all the chills running through his small but muscular body. I handed him my trench coat, hoping that he would warm up as I would fix the fire. Yet, to cover up that wonderful little body of his seemed so wrong.

I casted a simple Fire spell on the pile of wood that I had found earlier. I wrapped my arm around his body, brining him closer to me under the pretense of body warmth. The blush on his cheeks was priceless and I found myself loving it.

My free hand brushed gently across his soft cheeks. My fingers lingering on his lips that I desired to claim as my own. His lips parted gently and I found it hard to restrain myself from pushing my fingers into his hot, wet, pretty little mouth. I moved my hand away to play with his black bangs over his eyes.

The fire was our only light as my hand found its way back to his cheeks. I turned his head to face me, made him look only at me. I tilted my head slowly as I leaned closer to him. My mouth brushed against his right ear, his forehead, his left eyelid, and finally his sweet lips.

I had never kissed anyone before. I knew that he had, it was beyond obvious. He was a ladies' man after all and one that wasn't quiet about his achievements.

Would I only be on "achievement" in his mind? Kissing the great Sephiroth would be something worth bragging about. But would he really not care about my feelings at all? Am I only a body that he could want for one night?

I pulled away from the kiss. He looked shocked and confused as my eyes opened up. I slapped him on the cheek as I growled low in my throat. He would hurt me completely. He would use me as a prize to his feats. I would never allow it. I will kill him first!

Fair opened his mouth to speak, nut I took out my Materia for silence. I wanted not to hear his voice anymore. I did not want to know any words that were of his thoughts. I would not hear his vain excuses for why he would hurt me.

I silenced him and walked away from him. No matter how I felt about him, I could not take the pain that he would bring to me. The pain of being humiliated in front of the other Soldiers could never justify the emotion called love. As so…I could never display those feelings towards him…ever.