The chill wind of winter cut through the ice capped mountains, bringing their bitter cold air rambling down through the tiny villages nestled at its feet. Wooden shutters were drawn shut in a vain attempt to keep out the icy breath which filled this season with death and rebirth. Few villagers dared to venture outside their homes and out into the bitter cold, those who were brave enough wrapped themselves from head to two in homemade wool shawls and cloaks.
In one such village, a single tall mansion loomed above the wooden houses surrounding it's property like a thick picket fence. Smoke curled from its twin chimneys, and every window radiated with a soft yellow glow of light. The town was surrounded by a high wall of pointed logs, protecting the citizens inside from a possible thread of attack. Yet now, a few shivering villagers threw open the gates to greet their saviors, switching torches from hand to hand as they hugged familiar brothers and sons which made up the ranks of SOLDIER. Steam wafted from the settling engines of several blue trucks, the logo of the people's army printed across their sides in chipping white paint. Tilted back against one of these trucks as a warm breath of air escaped thin blue lips, a leather clad soldier first class stood adrift amongst the throng of happy family members. Eyes half closed with a sort of fascination rolled into utter disgust. Pathetic fools never realized how blindingly lucky they were. Even a creature, twisted
with experiments all his life, filled with a blood thirst backed by an immense anger that drove his very being into a plane of existence far beyond these pathetic beings could have ever imagined...even a creature such as he, wished for something as simple as a family. A weak minded mother infused with her own depression and loss had paid no heed to the bastard child which tugged upon her skirt, begging for attention and recognition. The cold metal of a laboratory table was all the comfort ever afforded to him.
Anger boiled through the mako enriched blood that coursed through his veins, pumping a reddish hue to the pale skin of his face. Clear green eyes shot open in time to watch a balled fist smash into the side of the faded blue truck he rested upon. Blood blossomed on the joints of his knuckles, slippery beneath the tight leather gloves. Pulling back his fist, fragments of warped metal dribbled forth from the hole driven into the wall. Cracks danced up the sides of the vehicle as head pivoted to search for the source of the disturbance to their mindless banter and happiness. Clutching his hand to his chest in a hidden attempt to nurse his wounds, the SOLDIER first class, Sephiroth sauntered in between the starring mindless idiots. Into the town he went, where the dull glow of warmth radiated from the inn. Purchasing a room for the night with government issued gil, he trudged up the steps without a concern for the other soldiers' sleeping arrangements, and not a thought left in his mind forgive that of sleep.
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Out in the bitter cold, Cloud stood before his hometown for the first time in two years, seeing it as he had never seen it before. People were rushing out of their homes, into the bitter cold to greet them as they approached. He carried himself professionally, always attempting to give the impression of a real Soldier member, even though he was forced to be among the lower ranks, not yet strong enough to be in Soldier.
He lifted a gloved hand to his face, running his fingers through the untamed locks of spiky-blond hair, brushing it out of his line of vision, to reveal a pair of brilliantly blue eyes, usually hidden beneath the disorderly bangs.
Before him, he could see the back of a built young man, only three years older than he was, and already first class. His dark hair trailing down his back in spikes as he looked about him enthusiastically before turning to Cloud, a soft grin plastered to his face, undermined his powerful visage, creating a more playful and seductive appearance to the officer that made Cloud freeze in his place for that moment. He felt the blood rush to his face, tingeing his fair skin with a vermilion glow. Zax always seemed to have this effect on him, though Cloud was sure it was nothing more than a high respect for the officer that brought about this tension within him.
His trance was broken when he caught a glimpse of a young girl at the gates, wearing an oversized cowboy hat and a mini-skirt to match (despite how cold it obviously was). His heart jumped, recognizing the girl as Tifa, his childhood friend. He left Nibliheim to join Soldier because he wanted to prove to Tifa, to his mother, to the town, that he could become a hero, first class. So far, he's only a disappointment. Embarrassing thoughts raced through his head at the moment, what would Tifa think if he came back without a good position in soldier, after he told her that he would be the best!
Quickly, he broke his momentary indolence to get his soldier's cap, a faded navy blue hat, with the words "soldier" embroidered to the brim. He tucked what he could of his haphazard golden hair under the hat, and let the rest fall over his face, in hopes of concealing his identity from her. He noticed that Zax was perplexed by the situation, watching him look to Tifa, analyzing her from afar, and then turn back to Cloud.
Cloud could see under the masses of yellow hair over his eyes, the slightest twinge upwards of the corner of Zax's lips as he looked back to him, peering through Cloud's barrier of hair, making Cloud feel as if his magnificent blue and green eyes were staring straight into him.
It was only the other member of their Group (a boy older than cloud but still at Cloud's rank) that broke the tension, by suggesting that they follow Sephiroth to their rooms, and rest before they need to go on their mission tomorrow.
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In one such village, a single tall mansion loomed above the wooden houses surrounding it's property like a thick picket fence. Smoke curled from its twin chimneys, and every window radiated with a soft yellow glow of light. The town was surrounded by a high wall of pointed logs, protecting the citizens inside from a possible thread of attack. Yet now, a few shivering villagers threw open the gates to greet their saviors, switching torches from hand to hand as they hugged familiar brothers and sons which made up the ranks of SOLDIER. Steam wafted from the settling engines of several blue trucks, the logo of the people's army printed across their sides in chipping white paint. Tilted back against one of these trucks as a warm breath of air escaped thin blue lips, a leather clad soldier first class stood adrift amongst the throng of happy family members. Eyes half closed with a sort of fascination rolled into utter disgust. Pathetic fools never realized how blindingly lucky they were. Even a creature, twisted
with experiments all his life, filled with a blood thirst backed by an immense anger that drove his very being into a plane of existence far beyond these pathetic beings could have ever imagined...even a creature such as he, wished for something as simple as a family. A weak minded mother infused with her own depression and loss had paid no heed to the bastard child which tugged upon her skirt, begging for attention and recognition. The cold metal of a laboratory table was all the comfort ever afforded to him.
Anger boiled through the mako enriched blood that coursed through his veins, pumping a reddish hue to the pale skin of his face. Clear green eyes shot open in time to watch a balled fist smash into the side of the faded blue truck he rested upon. Blood blossomed on the joints of his knuckles, slippery beneath the tight leather gloves. Pulling back his fist, fragments of warped metal dribbled forth from the hole driven into the wall. Cracks danced up the sides of the vehicle as head pivoted to search for the source of the disturbance to their mindless banter and happiness. Clutching his hand to his chest in a hidden attempt to nurse his wounds, the SOLDIER first class, Sephiroth sauntered in between the starring mindless idiots. Into the town he went, where the dull glow of warmth radiated from the inn. Purchasing a room for the night with government issued gil, he trudged up the steps without a concern for the other soldiers' sleeping arrangements, and not a thought left in his mind forgive that of sleep.
---------------
Out in the bitter cold, Cloud stood before his hometown for the first time in two years, seeing it as he had never seen it before. People were rushing out of their homes, into the bitter cold to greet them as they approached. He carried himself professionally, always attempting to give the impression of a real Soldier member, even though he was forced to be among the lower ranks, not yet strong enough to be in Soldier.
He lifted a gloved hand to his face, running his fingers through the untamed locks of spiky-blond hair, brushing it out of his line of vision, to reveal a pair of brilliantly blue eyes, usually hidden beneath the disorderly bangs.
Before him, he could see the back of a built young man, only three years older than he was, and already first class. His dark hair trailing down his back in spikes as he looked about him enthusiastically before turning to Cloud, a soft grin plastered to his face, undermined his powerful visage, creating a more playful and seductive appearance to the officer that made Cloud freeze in his place for that moment. He felt the blood rush to his face, tingeing his fair skin with a vermilion glow. Zax always seemed to have this effect on him, though Cloud was sure it was nothing more than a high respect for the officer that brought about this tension within him.
His trance was broken when he caught a glimpse of a young girl at the gates, wearing an oversized cowboy hat and a mini-skirt to match (despite how cold it obviously was). His heart jumped, recognizing the girl as Tifa, his childhood friend. He left Nibliheim to join Soldier because he wanted to prove to Tifa, to his mother, to the town, that he could become a hero, first class. So far, he's only a disappointment. Embarrassing thoughts raced through his head at the moment, what would Tifa think if he came back without a good position in soldier, after he told her that he would be the best!
Quickly, he broke his momentary indolence to get his soldier's cap, a faded navy blue hat, with the words "soldier" embroidered to the brim. He tucked what he could of his haphazard golden hair under the hat, and let the rest fall over his face, in hopes of concealing his identity from her. He noticed that Zax was perplexed by the situation, watching him look to Tifa, analyzing her from afar, and then turn back to Cloud.
Cloud could see under the masses of yellow hair over his eyes, the slightest twinge upwards of the corner of Zax's lips as he looked back to him, peering through Cloud's barrier of hair, making Cloud feel as if his magnificent blue and green eyes were staring straight into him.
It was only the other member of their Group (a boy older than cloud but still at Cloud's rank) that broke the tension, by suggesting that they follow Sephiroth to their rooms, and rest before they need to go on their mission tomorrow.
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