Sanity
Chapter 1 - A night on the town
By Batajitsu
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author, me Batajitsu. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.
Footsteps could be heard echoing through the shadowed empty streets of Midgar's Sector Four slums.
Another step echoed, followed by a small splash as water sprayed over the steel-bound boots of the figure clad in black.
A gust of wind moved through the street causing broken windowsills to shake on their hinges. The figure's long black cloak flapped violently in the wind, his long sleek silver hair swaying with it.
The figure rolled his silver armoured plated shoulder backwards craning his neck as he did so, causing a readjustment in the leather strap that was encasing the length of his giant samurai-like sword, the Masamune.
He stepped again, his boots splashing gently into the puddles whilst the tip of his masamune gently scraped along the ground, slicing through puddles much the same as the Presidents yacht through water.
He stopped, and in a slow calculated movement turned his head from side to side then upwards towards the high bridges that crisscrossed above the slums of Sector Four, analysing any possible threats that may have been lurking within the shadows. His glowing emerald eyes gradually came to rest upon a pair of unused railroad tracks, rusted from lack of use and maintenance, which were by now partially buried in the gravel.
He changed his direction and followed these rusted, uneven tracks leading to centre of Sector Four.
As he walked, wreckage could be seen, a depressing picture of broken down trains: each adorned in graffiti, abrasions and red rust stains. Reaching his arm outwards, he respectfully brushed his hand over the roof of the train that now was turned onto its side. He closed his eyes, sighing gently as memories of the past attempted to flood his thoughts.
Shaking his head with a melancholy sigh he continued on, eyes closed as he allowed the wreckage to guide him to his destination. After several minutes of this, he approached a run-down building which seemed to have been constructed in patchwork fashion with any materials that were on hand. A wooden sign hung from a single rusted nail just above the doubled wooden-imitation doorway.
A small sigh was emitted as the figure reached out, ready to fling the door open with both hands.
He touched the doors then jerked back, spinning on his heel, just avoiding the ragged-clad body that came flying out bouncing twice amongst the gravel before coming to a stop some several feet away from where the figure stood.
"And stay out, you lousy free loading drunk!" yelled the unmistakeable voice of the bartender from inside.
Another small sigh escaped the figure's lips.
The man re-approached the doors, this time not stopping as he pushed opening the left door with one hand to reveal a well-lit room, which keeping with tradition still managed to maintain deep shadows towards the back in which the light seemed unable to penetrate. The bar was lined with round wooden, poorly polished tables with high steel chairs with worn-out red cushioning, many of which were missing legs or were damaged in some way. Men and women each dressed in simple clothes were either brooding over their respected drinks or else booming loudly amongst friends.
Looking around, he noticed two figures to the right, nestled comfortably in a corner table which gave full view to the comings and goings of the waitresses and entrance.
He nodded in their direction once; they seemed however not to notice. He sighed again, lowering his head, as he approached the bar.
"Check your weapon, please," a gruff voice commanded as he took a seat on the only stool that looked as if it would hold.
Brushing a strand of silver hair away from his eyes and tucking it behind his ear, he lowered his gaze to the counter, causing shadows to cover his features as he closed his emerald green eyes.
The stranger, after several minutes of this, and ignoring the bartender's request murmured his order.
"Weapon check, please!" The bartender now held his hands on his hips, a stern expression covering his face.
The figure slowly opened his eyes and stared at the tender for several long moments, his mako-enhanced eyes illuminating his expression.
"Ri.. Right…" the bartender stammered, quickly averting his gaze away from the man in black.
Shakily the tender reached under the counter and drew out a bottle of a crystal clear liquid which was near empty, and instead of pouring a glass, handed the bottle to the stranger.
Nodding in appreciation, the man unscrewed the top. A small crisp sound followed, which was then followed by a low-sounding gulp as the stranger took a mouthful of the liquid swallowing without pause.
"That's good," the stranger murmured with a deep sigh as he rested the bottle on the counter.
The man lowered his head once more, hunching over his drink and slowly began swirling the bottle around in circles, watching as the liquid moved around and around in a mesmerising fluid of motions.
A loud slapping sound sounded through the bar.
"Owww, hey babe what the hell was that for, I was just giving you a compliment, no need to slap me over it!" yelled out a roughish male voice.
"Oh yeah, slapping my ass is a real compliment," yelled the young blonde waitress in a snappish voice, her lips pursed upwards in rage at the actions of the young male.
"Oh hey, don't be like that suga… Hey, I have an idea, what do you say you come back to my place for a li'l fun, aye? Can be just the two of us..."
The young man winked, smirking in a cocky, arrogant way that seemed to suggest that no matter what anyone else thought or said he knew he was right. He ran his hand through his jet-black, unkempt hair, fiddling with the tip of each spike, all the while smirking.
The young lady who slapped him looked him over with a grimace of disgust on her cute young freckled face. First staring with obvious contempt in her eyes at his rugged brown cloak wrapped loosely around his body, which jutted outwards at the shoulder, then at his partner whom was seemingly sleeping resting his head in both arms at the other end of the table, dressed in the same fashion, only with brilliant blond hair which seemed as though it could impale anyone that touched it.
She looked back over at the man with black hair then bit the bottom of her lip as she stared into those brilliant green eyes; she tilted her head slightly, remembering the tales she'd heard from her friends about the people with such eyes and build.
He winked again, and this time she blushed.
"I... ummmm." She stammered for a response.
"Oh come on," he pleaded, opening his arms outwards with his palms extended as if to show he was no threat.
He winked again, gently plucking his lips together in the gesture of a kiss.
"I'll be gentle, I promise," he whispered.
Immediately after this the woman slapped the black haired stranger's face twice more.
"PERV!!" she shouted as she slapped his face once more.
"Hey Marie, what's going on?" A scruffy looking man dressed in a yellow trench coat, with short curly brown hair in dire need of a haircut approached. Three cronies flanked each of his sides. He draped an arm over Marie just above her breast whilst the other hung onto a bottle of whisky wrapped in a brown paper bag. Even from the distance between the two, the black haired man could not only smell but even taste the stench of alcohol that the large man reeked of.
"Oh, hey buddy," the man with black hair called out a friendly smile covering his face.
"I had no idea she was yours, no hard feelings, right?"
The scruffy man's eyes narrowed; his upper lip curled exposing some yellow stained teeth as he snarled like a wild animal.
Without warning he pushed Marie away, causing her shoulder to knock hard against the wall and grabbed the black haired man's front of his cloak tearing him up from his chair, and pulled him so as they were now mere centimetres away; the black haired figure fell to the floor, the figure however was still smirking.
"What are you smirking at, you little punk." Spit flew from the larger man's mouth as he snarled the words out loud.
"Bill, that's enough, he was just joking around… There's no need to beat him up over nothing!"
"Shut up woman!" Bill responded in anger. "Don't speak unless you're spoken to!"
Bill reared back his right arm flexing his muscles as he closed his well-rounded fist and just before he lashed out, Marie grabbed hold of the large arm by the wrist with both of her delicate hands.
"No, don't, please Bill," Marie whimpered in protest.
"SHUT UP!!" roared Bill.
With that Bill backhanded Marie; she let out a small whimper before hitting the ground. She sobbed in pain as she clutched her now-swollen cheek where the deep imprint of a hand was now coming to form.
The whole bar turned to face the corner as they heard this.
The black haired man's eyes narrowed whilst his eyes turned a brighter shade of green.
Bill, however, did not notice.
"This will teach you to mess with my woman!" Bill roared as he reared his fist back further.
Letting go of the stranger's neck Bill lashed out with his fist, only to connect with nothing but air. The stranger grabbed hold of Bill's now outstretched arm, shifted his weight to his left then as if Bill were only a child flipped - or rather tossed - him over his shoulder and onto a poorly constructed table that was splintering at the edges.
A loud thud followed as Bill landed on the table where the black haired man's companion was sleeping. The deep thud that was emitted, however, did not stir the blond haired companion.
"Why, you little punk," one of the six cronies growled as each flipped out a small carving knife.
"You sure you wanna do that?" the black-haired man asked in a grim tone.
The cronies seemed to consider their chances for a moment, looking at each other as though looking for an indication of what to do. Foolishly, they charged.
The first struck high at the stranger's chest, the stranger however twirled out of the way, grabbed the man's wrist then using his elbow like a wedge crushed downwards causing a loud snap to occur in the crony's wrist. The man doubled backwards clutching his wrist in agony.
The next attacker was only a split second behind the first; the crony sprang forward, aiming at the black haired stranger's neck, yet anticipating this, the stranger twirled slightly, and with a chop to the back of the neck sent the crony skidding along the floor already unconscious.
The other four stopped their attack.
The stranger however did not. He charged forward round-housing the man next to him with a closed fist, instantly breaking the man's jaw. Without stopping he swung his right foot out high catching another under the chin causing him to fly upwards before crashing down on top of the other man who was now clutching his jaw, moaning in agony.
He slowly allowed his leg to swing around back to the floor before looking at the remaining two with a look of complete boredom.
The two remaining cronies looked at each other, looked down at their four downed friends, then at their leader before breaking into a run, tumbling over themselves as they escaped through the double doors.
Shaking his head in disgust the stranger turned to where Marie was lying on the ground. Gently he helped lift her to her feet and guide her over to where Bill was lying down, without even looking the black haired stranger pushed Bill's body off the table and rolled him off to the side. Picked up his chair and offered it to Marie whom graciously accepted. The stranger seeing as there were no more chairs for himself, sat himself upon the top of the table.
"You ok?" he asked gently, as he brushed his hand over Marie's cheek where Bill's hand had struck her.
"Hey tender, you think we can get some ice over here?" He paused, noticing for the first time that the entire bar was looking his way, "What are you looking at?" he growled as he noticed the looks everyone was giving him.
With that the bar quickly turned back to their drinks not one wishing to ever be on the receiving end of a hit from that man when or if he decides to get in a bad mood.
The waiter came over holding a towel wrapped around some ice and he handed it to Marie.
"Th... Thank you," she whispered.
She gently held the towel to her face, grimacing in pain as it touched her tender cheek.
"Here, let me help."
Zack gently took hold of the towel and held it onto her cheek with the utmost care.
"And by the way, thanks for trying back there," Zack said in a silky voice.
"It was... it was no problem," replied Marie who was intently staring into Zack's eyes as though mesmerised by the deep emerald gleam.
He smirked again; she blushed and lowered her face all the while biting her lower lip.
"I, ummmm." She blushed deeper unable to say anything.
"He's taken," a tiny voice murmured from the other side of the table.
"…..." The man with black hair shot a look of frustration at his once sleeping blond companion.
Marie turned her head towards the blond man as well. "Excuse me?"
"He has a girlfriend," the man repeated again in a bored voice.
"JERK!!!" cried out Marie as she sprang up from the chair, slapping the black-haired man's face twice more, causing the chair to topple backwards with a loud clatter. With that Marie, the pain seemingly forgotten stormed out of the bar slamming the double doors open with all her strength.
"WHAT THE HELL, CLOUD, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR, I WAS THIS CLOSE!" The man with black hair squeezed his index and thumb together till they were a mere millimetre apart to emphasise how close he was, whilst his other hand was held over his slightly reddened cheek. "I WAS THIS CLOSE, THIS CLOSE CLOUD TO SCORING WITH THE HOTTEST CHICK I'VE SEEN ALL DAY!!!!!"
"And what about Aeris?" Cloud asked, a look of scepticism covering his face.
"Well I, umm... Oh yea... Ahahahahahaaaaaaa!" The stranger with black hair started laughing out loud all the while scratching the back of his head. "Well, about that..." Zack began.
"Zack, that's nothing to be proud of, what will Aeris say when I tell her about this..."
Zack's laughter immediately vanished.
"..." A look of betrayal crossed over Zack's face.
"..." Cloud's face remained expressionless.
"You wouldn't..." Zack finally replied, the mask of horror and betrayal still evident upon his face.
Cloud relaxed his face to one side, smirking slightly as he gave Zack an all-knowing look.
"Grrrr," was Zack's only response.
Cloud's smirk grew even wider.
"Name your price... You… You... blackmailer," Zack whispered with a growl.
"Do my duties for a month," Cloud instantly replied.
"... CLOUD, THAT IS NOT FUNNY! DO YOU REALISE IF YOU MAKE ME DO THIS, I WON'T HAVE ANY TIME TO SCORE?????"
"Exactly," was Cloud's response.
"Grrrr."
"Fine. I'll tell Aeris." Cloud stood up to leave.
"No, wait, I'll..." Zack seemed to choke as he struggled to finish the sentence.
Zack gritted his teeth together, fists clenched tightly together.
"I'll do it." Zack choked the remaining words out, his head bent low in resignation.
Cloud just smirked in reply knowing that in his friend's drunken state, he seemed to have forgotten that the two had never met face to face.
"Now how 'bout you buying me a drink."
"Don't push it buddy..."
Cloud smiled in that all-knowing look.
"What…?" Zack dreaded the answer but still managed to ask.
"Nothing," Cloud quickly replied, in a voice that seemed to suggest that he had Zack in the palm of his hand.
"…..." Zack seemed to be in deep thought, thinking what type of dirt his 'friend' had on him this time.
"Just…" Cloud smirked again. "I seem to…. Recall…. Having an audio tape of you and once Michael…"
"……" Zack stared at Cloud for a few moments, "TENDER ANOTHER ROUND THANKS!"
He sat there, still staring into his drink, watching as the liquid slowly twirled from one side to another.
Clash, shing.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"
His shoulders sagged, all noise became that of a dull roar before finally ceasing completely; all images of his surroundings, became blurred until, at last, all he could see was the liquid slowly moving side to side, splashing against the side of the bottle like water in a stream. He closed his eyes...
A lone figure stood in the middle of a deserted battlefield, bodies piling the once-lush fields of Wutai, the stench of blood so thick in the air that he could practically taste it with each breath he took. Blood clung to his clothes, his hair, his blade, as if he had jumped into an ocean of it.
Seven men all clad in Wutaian battle armour came into view, each holding a weapon of some sort in their outstretched hands.
"Sephiroth, your hands have been stained with too much blood, we will end it here!"
With that they charged, Sephiroth looked at them, analysing the situation. He planted his feet, bending his front knee, and lifted his impossibly long blade with both hands, pulling it backwards past his shoulder, poised ready to strike.
The men entered his attack range and he thrust with lighting speed so fast that their bodies failed to react. The blade pierced the first man in an instant, never even showing the slightest hesitation he swung left, ripping it free of the first body only to re-lodge itself into another.
The remaining attackers stopped in their tracks, flipping back away out of Sephiroth's attack range.
Sephiroth merely raised his left hand towards the remaining five.
"What... what are you doing?!" They shrank back in fear.
A cruel smile played its way at the corners of Sephiroth's lips as he fought the urge to laugh aloud.
A horrendous fire blast shot forth from Sephiroth's outstretched hand, burning its way into the attackers.
They shrieked in agony as the fire consumed them, burning their hair first, then their ears, before finally burning their clothing, melting it onto their flesh till at last the flesh sizzled. Their screams of complete agony cut through the air like a knife through warm butter; they looked at Sephiroth, into his eyes, those cold, green, illuminating eyes, before at last succumbing to the pain. Sephiroth meanwhile stood there, never taking his eyes from the scene, never flinching from the smell of burning flesh that penetrated the air.
Sephiroth once again sighed before lifting the bottle of vodka, pressed it against his lips before pouring the contents straight down his throat, never flinching despite the burning he felt.
He reached into an inside pocket of his cloak and pulled out ten gil, the currency within Midgar, placing it on the counter as he stood up. Stepping back, he twirled on his heel causing his black cloak to whip around hitting the two men that were seated beside him, they however either didn't notice or chose to ignore it, as each were still hunched over their drinks each trying to perhaps forget regretful pasts.
Sephiroth walked over to the corner table, careful not to step on the trash on the ground that was the men that Zack had beaten down.
"We're leaving."
"Huh? Just who the hell do you think you... Holy shi..."
Realising who stood before them Zack and Cloud clumsily came to attention, tripping over one another in their drunken haste. Their stances were parade-ground perfect, legs together, hands behind their backs, a perfect military attention stance.
"Sir, we didn't realise…"
Cloud started but was cut off by the look that Sephiroth gave him.
"You're drunk! Look at yourselves! You can hardly stand up straight!" Sephiroth finished his analysis in a disgusted tone as he watched Zack sway slightly on his feet. "Do any of you even have a clue as to what time it is???"
"Ummm, sir, it's only eleven pm…" Zack started as he looked at his watch.
"Eleven PM? IT'S THREE AM, YOUR WATCH IS STILL SET TO JUNON TIME!" Sephiroth roared at the two of them.
"Oh," was all Zack had in response to this; Cloud meanwhile was standing still as a statue.
"Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you two?"
"Errrrr..." Both men seemed to be at a loss for words.
"That was a rhetorical question, Lieutenant Zackary Fair," Sephiroth replied.
Zack closed his mouth and looked straight ahead.
"Four hours I've been combing the streets looking for you two, and where do I find you? Not in the soldier bars, noooooo, you two are too good to go there, aren't you? So you had to go down here and start picking fights!"
"Sir, we didn't..." Zack began, but the look Sephiroth shot them silenced any further arguments.
"And Strife, I thought I knew you better, following Zack down into the slums, what were you thinking?" Sephiroth swiped his hand downwards as he spoke.
"Sir, Lieutenant Zackary requested I come to keep him company… Sir!" Cloud snapped his answer, standing even further upright as he did so.
Sephiroth seemed not to hear him and instead went on shaking his head and muttering under his voice.
Cloud shot Zack a nervous look, as they had never seen the General so angry with them before.
"Sir.." Zack started.
"Hmpth, you guys are way too serious." Unable to contain his amusement any longer, Sephiroth started laughing, clutching his sides with both hands. "Now how 'bouts you two front some cash and buy your ol' buddy here a drink?"
Both Zack and Cloud shook their heads as they both looked at the floor in shame for their friend.
"Damn got us again," Zack muttered in a disbelieving tone before seating himself down on a chair next to Cloud adjacent from Sephiroth.
"TENDER!" Zack yelled out.
Cloud and Zack after paying for theirs and Sephiroth's drinks exited the bar, each supporting Sephiroth with one shoulder as his arms were draped over theirs, his head bent low and his feet and masamune trailing behind him.
"See Seph, this is what happens when you scull down three bottles of vodka straight after each other."
Sephiroth opened his mouth to answer back, but quickly closed it as he felt the foul taste of vomit building up in his throat. Instead he just looked over into Zack's eyes, trying his best to muster a penetrating stare. This time however his eyes were so dark from the amount of alcohol he had consumed it was difficult for him to even open his eyes.
"I think I'm gonna..." With that Sephiroth broke off from his two subordinates, covering his mouth with his hand as he ran to the side of the alley where he vomited furiously.
Zack and Cloud trudged their way over to where Sephiroth was huddled, then as gently as they could hoisted the General back onto their shoulders and began the long walk back up to the SOLDIER Headquarters.
"Hey, there he is! That's the guy right there! That's him the one that beat up Bill! And slapped my ass!" Marie's now not so sweet voice filled the now not-so-empty street.
Zack turned his head around to look behind him, a stoned expression on his face. All objects seemed blurred to him and it took him several seconds to actually register what he was looking at. Behind them, about thirty feet down the alley, stood Marie followed closely behind by what appeared to Zack to look like a large mob consisting of around thirty or so people each holding planks of wood or bats in their hands.
"Urg," Zack moaned, holding his head in his hand. "Not now," he moaned again.
"We've got company." Cloud too turned his head, however unlike Zack his face appeared to be more tired then actually drunk. Together Zack and Cloud gently lowered Sephiroth to the ground before turning around to face the mob, each raising their fists in a defensive boxer-like stance.
Meanwhile, while Zack and Cloud positioned themselves Sephiroth rose to his feet; all signs that he was drunk immediately vanished.
A stepping sound echoed from behind the duo.
Cloud looked behind him to see Sephiroth walking away down the alley.
Both Cloud's and Zack's lips moved in a 'what the?!' motion in response to Sephiroth's actions.
"Hey Seph, we could use your help here, if you can stand on your own I think you can help us," Zack called back.
Sephiroth merely raised an eyebrow, "Nah, you guys seem to have it covered... Cya!" With that Sephiroth turned around and began walking back down the alley towards SOLDIER HQ, leaving Cloud and Zack completely alone to face the mob. He raised his right hand waving 'bye' once to his two subordinates.
"That JERK!" Zack yelled out.
"Don't worry," Cloud whispered, "We can take 'em." He raised his right arm.
Zack bit his lower lip, swaying slightly on his feet; then clasping Cloud's hand firmly he nodded, as did Cloud in response. They broke hands as they both reached over their backs gripping the cloaks they were wearing, then in a dramatic action flung them to the floor to reveal sleek purple SOLDIER uniforms. Each had a gigantic Buster Sword attached to their backs with metallic spikes on their shoulders. Taking a deep breath, Zack re-faced the mob as Cloud did likewise and together they charged, each with one hand firmly gripping the hilt of their giant swords.