The inn they found was relatively small and took up room quickly. The innkeeper exclaimed they were lucky to have found anything on the weekend, such as it was. The troubles Zack predicted before their arrival faded, especially since Sephiroth put his hair up and covered up most traces of being Shin-Ra's dogs.
Even if they had sported Shin-Ra embroidered uniforms and big SOLDIER rank pins the man was more likely to be staring at the stuffed pouch of gil in the General's hand. Sephiroth gave false names and covered his signature with extra coin to ensure their stay would be uninterrupted. Sephiroth followed Zack to the jeep, and pulled his bag from the back along with his companions.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? Tseng will know we didn't check in when the funds aren't taken for the room." Zack reasoned.
"I do not care." Sephiroth was beyond reason and blatantly stated his position. He no longer wished to be tied to the company. He wanted to be severed from its chains completely before he got too close to the truth.
Rufus, even in his meticulous workings, couldn't keep the entire world buried under the floors of the Shin-Ra offices. Especially when Sephiroth stood squarely above them in the basement labs Hojo frequently used to enhance him. All the General had to do was dig, and he was in no mood to get his hands dirty. It was best for everyone if he just … disappeared.
Sephiroth pushed open their door and threw down his duffle bag. Zack did the same before realizing a very minor detail.
"One bed?" Zack questioned. Sephiroth shrugged, not particularly wanting to deal with that thought and headed straight for the bathroom. Zack didn't blame him; picking through bodies for almost three days without adequate hygiene was bound to make anyone crazy for fresh water. He supposed it was especially true if your hair had the ability to touch the blood and dirt by merely kneeling.
Zack smiled, absently wondering what Sephiroth did to all that hair after he showered. Would he put it up? Or leave the towel to dry? The SOLDIER snickered aloud for such imaginings and decided it was better to just wait and see.
Zack set his bag closer to the bed and pulled out various garments. He stripped completely, sighing happily as the reeking material parted from his body. He picked out a pair of briefs for modesties sake and waited for his turn.
Zack rested on the soft queen sized bed, closing his eyes and lifted an arm over his head. The SOLDIER drifted off to sleep as the running water turned his thoughts to mush.
The squeaking of the shower handle startled the dark haired boy's dreams. He sat up with an instinctive reach for his buster sword. He soon remembered where he was and retracted the hand.
Sephiroth emerged with one large towel dipping dangerously between his powerful hips and another smaller towel held the great mass of hair from rewetting his back.
"You may use the facilities now, SOLIDER." He said calmly.
Zack watched the older man creep towards the bed and do almost the same thing Zack had done no more than 20 minutes ago. It was rare that Zack saw Sephiroth away from their missions, and acting like something relatively normal. The more Zack saw of it… the more he liked. A mental promise solidified in the boy's mind, telling him that moments like this should happen more often.
Zack rounded the bed and slipped into the humid space. Sephiroth's silver hair was stuck in various places, and the smell of his soap filled the condensate droplets that bubbled up on the pale blue tiles.
Zack swept a hand through the moisture and rubbed his fingers together, feeling the oils that were previously used on the General.
The SOLDIER shook his head disapprovingly; he definitely didn't want this new venture into the General's personal life to become an obsession.
He ran a weak hand through his dark spikes and let all muscles relax under the hot spray. A wave of energy pulsed through him as Mako sensed his exhaustion, but Zack gladly ignored it, hoping its rejuvenating affects would wash away and let him shut down for the night.
The SOLDIER scrubbed at the dirt and blood of the dead. Crusted bits of blood turned soft and slid easily down the drain. His hair parted from their individual spikes and laid flat over his shoulders. Zack pushed the wet bits from his face and leaned back. He massaged a generous amount of shampoo through his thick dark hair and was soon rinsing it as he did the blood and dirt.
But now the red was frothy and smelt of strawberries rather then stale iron.
Zack let suds fall over his chest and rubbed them thoroughly, hoping some of their scent would stick to his body or at least cover up the musty smell of death.
A small shiver made Zack's spine straighten and the muscles around it tense. He reached a hand to his back and pulled at a small thin strand between his fingers. Another shiver followed as the bit of hair stuck all the way from his shoulder blade down to the drain. He inspected it, and smiled at its silver glint.
He doubted anyone was as close to Sephiroth as he. And in that moment, Zack felt extremely proud.