10. Torn
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This chapter is dedicated to Tishannia, thegr8Sephiroth, James Firecat, Selunchen123, emerald drake, Lady Nephenee Ranulf, turtlerad17, Shinz, Great Beaver, Trance, Asga, Kit Thespian, Ryuho Master of Zetsuei, and cozmicomicollector.
Thank you for giving me the support and inspiration for this!
-
The falling snow seemed to calm by the Northern Crater, and the easing wind gave an almost false sense of peace.
Even a Black Dragon saw a minor monster run by and decided not to chase it, but rather enjoy the closest thing they got up to tranquility up there. The dragon inhaled the different scents in the air, curling it's wings against it's body as it's eyes drifted shut. Dragons knew when to rest before the calm was broken.
Because it was always broken. Eventually, and brutally.
A few hundred meters away, inside a laboratory hidden beneath the mountain, Cid Highwind and General Sephiroth was staring at each other.
Both appeared to be unwilling to make the first move, measuring the other while seeking an opening to attack, but by now they had glared at each other for so long that one of them had to charge or they had to start dating.
That's when Cid ran.
Cid Highwind was a lot of thing, but an idiot he was not. He knew he had no chance of defeating Sephiroth on his own. They had barely managed to stop the Sephiroth-clone when the entire AVALANCHE was fighting against it, and a lone dragoon with a child incapacitating his left arm did not have a flicker of hope against the war-machine. He knew his only hope was trying to get out of the lab, into the open air, and really make a run for it.
The pilot managed about three steps, before he was forced to spin around and raise the Venus Gospel in front of him to ward off the Masamune as Sephiroth came leaping towards him.
The impact alone sent shocks of pain up Cid's arm and he stumbled a few more steps back. How was it possible to be that strong? And more importantly, was it even possible to escape someone that strong?
Spinning the Venus Gospel by his side, the blonde watched warily and backed up even more as Sephiroth came stalking towards him. His pulse was hammering and fear made his fingers tingle. Block the fear. Focus!
A flash of silver, and Cid barely got the Venus Gospel turned to prevent the infamous sword from separating his head from the rest of him, the second impact even harder than the first, and he lashed out to make Sephiroth jump away again. A quick glance at the exit and a weak sense of panic at how far it seemed, but also a flame of stubbornness burning fiercely. Focus, Cid Highwind!
Sephiroth rushed towards him again, and several attacks followed, one of them leaving a thin line of blood on the side of Cid's neck. The pilot stumbled back by each defensive move that was slammed against and he was breathing hard as Sephiroth fell back into his fighting stance a small distance away.
Heck, maybe Shera was right and he should stop smoking?
Cid grinned, spinning the Venus Gospel.
Nah.
The smile seemed to infuriate Sephiroth further and he rushed towards his former ally again, weapons clashing and sparks flying, forcing the blonde to back up some more. Instinct more than anything made Cid able to block the Masamune, as it seemed to come at him from every angle and at impossible speed. Raito felt like he was growing heavier by the seconds, and Sephiroth was slowly driving the blonde away from the door. A few attempts at aiming for freedom was rewarded with a cut to his thigh and a heavily bleeding wound in his side.
Cid managed a quick Cure3 before he was forced to dodge yet another attack, with countless more following.
Running, blocking and curing the wounds as they appeared, Cid thought his luck had finally changed when he saw Sephiroth miss completely with his latest lunge.
Then Cid realised one very important thing; Sephiroth did not mistakes in battles.
The silver haired man wasn't aiming for the pilot!
Why Cid did it, the pilot would never understand. Would never be able to figure out why it suddenly was so important to protect the child in his arms. Some ShinRa shrink would probably argue that it was some issues with guilt concerning his own unborn child he'd neglected, or his own childhood trauma, but Cid knew he was too shallow for any of that. He prided himself in that.
So, he'd never be able to explain why he turned that way, placing himself between Sephiroth and Raito, and held the little boy into safety as the Masamune tore through his back and came piercing out his chest. He didn't even panic. Cid knew what a sword through the chest felt like. He knew it hurt like nothing else.
-
Masamune retreated, leaving a world of pain, as Cid crashed to his knees and coughed out the blood that threatened to choke him.
A silence followed, only broken by the pilot's efforts to breathe, and a brief glance back at his attacked revealed the pale and shocked look on Sephiroth's face. Cid managed a weak smile, glad to see a flicker of sanity on his friend's face again, but knew it wouldn't last long. Just like himself.
So tired and dizzy, Cid had to force himself with every ounce of his remaining energy to keep from passing out and tried to utter the words to the cure spell. Sephiroth had obviously missed the heart this time, but hit a lung instead. That made talking, and breathing, very difficult.
Sephiroth couldn't believe what he had just done. Couldn't understand why Cid was kneeling and coughing blood because of him. Strange feelings kept flowing through him, everything from raging guilt to the thrill of the kill. What was happening to him?
A flicker of magic and suddenly the pilot was on the move again, making Sephiroth snap into pursuit. No one should be able to move after that injury! But the blonde ran at an amazing speed towards the door and rammed his shoulder into it, slamming it open and he tumbled out into the snow.
Halting in the doorway, Sephiroth absently cut the air with the Masamune as he watched Cid struggle up on his knees, still holding that damn kid, and gazed at his attacker with... an apologetic look?
"Don't... kill him..." Cid whispered, ready to collapse as the snowflakes landed on him to melt and mingle with the blood.
Sephiroth shook his head, taking a step towards him, about to explain that the kid had to die. They all had to die. The ones carrying the Jenova cells, they all had to die!
A terrible bright light exploded from Cid and sent the silver haired man flying backwards. He rolled to a halt and jumped to his feet, staring with disbelief at the pillar of energy shooting towards the sky from the pilot and he realised the words had not be spoken to him. Cid had asked the dragon not to kill Sephiroth...
The Water Dragon took shape within the energy and it's roar sent the monsters of the Northern Crater fleeing. Panlong felt it's existance threatened and it knew it had to reach Midgar to survive. Fast. With the blue crystal safely in one clawed paw, it cradled the still form of Raito in the other. These were to be protected.
Staring at the huge, coiling beast, Sephiroth clutched the Masamune harder. Was turning into a huge dragon considered cheating? Having a sword like Masamune was probably considered cheating too then...
That was when he saw the dragon aiming to flee, swirling it's way up of the crater, and Sephiroth started into action.
Leaping up, he reached the huge beast and drove the Masamune deep into it's shoulder, causing it to howl with pain and crash into the mountain wall.
The silver haired man barely avoided being crushed between the massive creature and the rock surface, but used the chance to tear the sword free and lash out again, vaguely noticing how he did no damage to the dragon, but blood was starting to drip from the crystal between it's claws. A cut to the long neck. A stab between the shoulder blades. Another lash at the neck. Sephiroth aimed to drive the Masamune through the sleek head, but was only rewarded with the feeling of fangs leaving a deep cut in his upper arm as he narrowly avoided getting his entire limb chomped off.
Panlong was furious.
Sephiroth finally lost balance as the Water Dragon coiled itself around to reach it's attacker, and he tried to make an effort to land on his feet as well as keeping a somewhat defensive stance as he fell. He actually heard his ribs break when the scaly body rammed into him, the fangs barely missing his torso this time, but it's shoulder trapped him against the rock wall. Raw, numbing pain shot through him, and Sephiroth failed to hold back a choked scream. Agony flooded his brain, but there was no time to dwell on it. He had to keep moving! Or it was all over!
Managing to free himself, somehow, Sephiroth finally landed on the ground and went down on one knee. It hurt so much to breathe!
A roar made him glance up and he saw the huge dragon racing towards him, it's mouth open to reveal the fangs promising a painful death. The silver haired warrior suddenly felt small and powerless.
However, Sephiroth forced himself up on his feet.
Slowly getting into a fighting stance, lifting the Masamune with trembling hands and bitterly determined eyes.
The image of Aeris in prayer flickered in front of Sephiroth's mind as the jaws came thundering down towards him, and he cried out as he jumped up with the Masamune to greet them.
-
If a glare could kill, Hojo would have been dead, brought back to life yet another time, only to be killed by it again.
Yazoo couldn't put enough poison in his glare as he tried to will the dark haired scientist into having some sort of embarrassing and horribly painful disease. Their first meeting had been right outside of Midgar, and the silver haired man hadn't been too happy about having to fetch the man. But the meeting with the legendary Hojo did nothing to improve Yazoo's mood. If anything, Hojo had firmly killed whatever hope Yazoo had about the fates not hating his guts.
From the moment he'd come to a halt, his bike sliding side-ways to stop a few inches from the stoic Hojo, there had been trouble.
Hojo had obviously no affection for the means of transportation, and the look he'd sent Yazoo made the younger man feel like he'd been singled out and tsk'ed at by every professor at school in front of all the other students! (Not that Yazoo had ever been to a school, or ever had a professor, or even been tsk'ed at, but he was pretty darn sure that was how it must have felt like!) Hojo had eyed the means of transportation and the one riding it with little less than sour disdain, and a mutual dislike was founded.
Yazoo didn't know why Hojo had decided to dislike him, but at least he knew he disliked the scientist for the snooty and patronizing glare that had greeted him on their first meeting! It didn't help that Kadaj had been so openly happy to see the cranky bat, and the two had been mumbling to each other for hours now without letting Yazoo or Loz hear what was going on!
Yazoo grumbled annoyed, turning away from the unlikely duo, only to see a flicker of pink by a glowing tree.
Great! Now Hojo got Yazoo so worked up that he was hallucinating. Not only was he seeing things, but he was actually conjuring up the image of the half-Cetra of all things! Wait. No way. It couldn't be...
Starting violently, the young man cast a quick glance over at Kadaj to make sure he wasn't being watched, then stormed over to where he'd seen his 'vision'.
Yazoo circled the tree and his eyes narrowed with anger. "What are you going here?" He hissed furiously, casting another glance in his brother's direction. "Are you crazy? No, don't bother answering that. I know you are! You must be, or you wouldn't be here! But are you suicidal as well? Are you trying to get us both killed?"
The flower girl managed a faint smile from where she was standing with her back against the huge tree. "I'm sorry, but I had to talk to you..."
Snorting, Yazoo crossed his arms. "You're crazy alright!" Then he tensed even more as he sensed more presences near by. "And you brought the cavalry..."
Another faint smile, almost apologetic, and Aeris reached out to touch by his elbow. "I'm sorry, but they wouldn't let me go alone. They promised not to bother us."
"That's nice," Yazoo sneered. "I'll remember that when Kadaj kills us all!"
Aeris took a step towards the silver haired man. "I need your help... You have to help me... Please..."
"If you ever considered a career within the stealth business, girl, I strongly advice you against it!" A voice suddenly drawled, and the two started around to see Hojo eyeing them with a dry look. "A deaf chocobo would have heard your sneaking."
Yazoo growled and placed a hand on his weapon. "Kadaj told you to...?"
"Oh, calm down and go comb your hair or something," Hojo scoffed, walking pass the younger man to eye the half-Cetra. Completely ignoring how Yazoo's jaw fell slightly in disbelief at the words, as well as his reaching for his gun. "Kadaj told me to bring a few of my samples with Jenova cells to boost his growth. I might have... accidentally given him some tranquilizers instead, so you're safe at the moment. Somewhat safe, I suppose, as it wont be long before Chaos smells your little friend here."
Exhaling, Aeris managed a true smile this time. "Hojo... Be nice. I need to talk to him. I need his help."
Hojo scoffed again. "Nice? May I remind you that I am currently kidnapped by the Diaper Brigade! And what you need, little girl, is to get your little behind back home to Midgar. Sephiroth is going to kill me if he finds out I let you go on a date with one of these homicidal brats." He didn't even deign to acknowledge the angry sputters from one of the said homicidal brats behind him.
Aeris swallowed hard. "Your son seems set on following in your footsteps, Hojo. He vanished too. Only he brought Cid and Raito with him to wherever Jenova told him to go." She paused to gather herself enough to form more words. "I need to find him..."
Hojo didn't reply for a few seconds, then he finally nodded. "Very well." He cleared his throat awkwardly when the brunette threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. A few more seconds passed, then Hojo inhaled slowly. "Aeris...?"
"Yes?"
"You're not going to let go before I return the hug, do you?" He could feel her smile against his neck.
"No."
"Ah." The dark haired scientist hesitated slightly before placing one embarrassed arm around her waist and patting her shoulder lightly with the other one. "Still not playing fair, Aeris..."
Releasing him with a tear-stained laugh after a little while, Aeris smiled bravely up at him. "I learned from the best."
-
Yazoo glared with all his might as Hojo turned to leave, and even tried to appear unfazed when the dark haired man made him take an unknowing step away when passing him. If people thought slit-pupil eyes were creepy, they should try to stare down Hojo's golden-brown gaze!
"And tell ShinRa I'm disappointed that he's being out-smarted by three hooligans and allowing them to blackmailing him into letting me be kidnapped!" Hojo muttered before vanishing back to wherever he'd been.
Holding his gun so hard that his hand was trembling, Yazoo snorted with fury and disbelief as he stared at Aeris. "How can you even stand that man?"
Aeris shrugged, still with her faint smile. "You just have to treat him decently. He's a good man, really." She drew a shivering breath. "We owe him a lot. Me and Sephiroth."
Yazoo holstered his gun, frowning at the sad note in her voice. "Somehow I find it hard to picture him even spitting on an orphanage on fire to fight the flames. So do tell, what do you want from me?"
Green eyes flickered with heart-ache and she finally glanced up at him. "Jenova took Sephiroth from me. I have to get him back. Before he hurts himself, or Cid and Raito."
"I told you, half-blood, I'm not on your little team," Yazoo sneered haughtily. "I have no reason to help you. With the way Mother has been acting lately, she probably suspects me of having helped you enough already! Now scoot on back home! Scoot!"
Aeris suddenly reached out and took a hold of his shirt, holding his eyes intently with her own. "You know what it's like! You know! You know how it feels when you're fighting against an invisible enemy to save someone you care about! Someone you care about enough to risk your own life!" The flower girl was trembling. "Please." Her voice nothing but a desperate whisper. "I have to find him. I have to save him..."
The initial shock slowly turned into something else, and Yazoo tilted his head as he watched the emotions flow in her eyes. Yes, he did know. He did understand what he saw in her gaze. It scared him how much he understood her need to save someone who mattered to her. He understood just too well!
There was a small squeak of surprise when Yazoo took a hold of her shoulders, but it was soon muffled by his lips against hers. A kiss that turned Yazoo's indifferent nature into an inferno, and he felt a wave of bliss when she didn't fight against him. The silver haired man did not fool himself into believing it came from anything but shock, but for that moment he was allowed to savour his first kiss and shiver at the intensity of it all. The air around them was suddenly charged and he felt the flower girl tremble weakly as her lips softened against his. An act of submission in fear, or a whisper of returned feelings?
The possibility of it being either of the two options yanked Yazoo back to reality and he barely withdrew, whispering against her lips. "Home. Mother probably called him home. North. You'll find them there."
Aeris stared wide eyed after him as the young man turned and left, walking away without a word, and leaving her to slowly sink down to sit on the ground with her back against the tree. Her heart was thundering and shame made her face burn. She knew, just knew, how different her life would become if she called out after Yazoo now. How he would never hurt her like Sephiroth. That he would never pull away from her. Never try to make things right on his own. Yazoo would never think saving the world was worth giving up his own life for.
Yazoo was fire and Sephiroth was ice. Both could burn her, but only Sephiroth could leave her numb and covered with hopeless frost.
Drawing a trembling breath, Aeris felt tears filling her eyes again. If she called out, Yazoo would turn around, and who knew what would happen? The brunette slowly closed her eyes, feeling a tear slide down her skin, whispering the words she knew Yazoo wouldn't hear. "Thank you."
What, exactly, she was thanking him for, Aeris wasn't too sure herself.
All she knew was that there was only a minor flaw in the thought of calling out for a chance with someone else; Aeris loved Sephiroth.
Love isn't something you can decide. You can't switch it on and off when it serves your best interest to do so.
Love is almost a living and breathing creature itself. It twists and turns, going where the heart wants and leaving the mind to despair.
You can't decide who you love, how you love them, how much, or even for how long.
Sometimes, however, you have to let the ones you love go.
Other times, you have to fight with everything you have to keep them.
-
Rufus kept a weary gaze at the glowing forrest a small distance away from where he was standing on an airship. He hated to let Aeris go on her own, but he didn't have much choice, did he? Sephiroth might kill him for letting Aeris wander into danger alone, but it was the silver haired man who had forced them into this situation! A sigh escaped his lips, and Rufus flicked a lock of his hair back. Things was never going to be easy with Sephiroth around, were they?
The thing that bothered the young ShinRa the most was the fact that he hadn't seen it coming.
Rufus had been completely content in trusting his so-called friend that he'd lowered his guard. Stupid. Stupid! And because of Rufus' lack of vigilance, a little boy might get killed.
Tifa would never forgive him, and Rufus doubted he'd even forgive himself.
Cloud Strife was an idiot, but his son was innocent.
"You think she's gonna be ok?" Barret stepped up beside Rufus, amazingly quiet for once.
Rufus sighed again. "I don't know..."
Silence followed for a while, then Barret huffed a slight smile. "Ya know... Aeris managed to outsmart you folks for quite some time. Don't think we should be underestimating her."
"But ShinRa never sent three crazy guys set on destroying the world after her," Rufus mumbled distantly. "These guys are unpredictable. They're capable of hurting and killing just for the fun of it. Sephiroth said so himself."
Then there was the incredibly loud and sharp sound of gun fire as Barret fired his gun arm into the air. "Sephiroth! Don't even mention that damn foo!"
Starting violently, Rufus jumped away before exploding into anger. "Has anyone told you you have a SERIOUS impulse problem?"
Barret placed a hand over his gun arm and raised an eyebrow as he glanced drily over at the younger man. "Don't anger the brother with the gun arm, yo."
Rufus clenched his jaw so hard it hurt before forcing himself to stare at the forrest again, trying to will Aeris into sight.
"All I'm saying is that Aeris ain't no damsel in distress," Barret continued. "The girl knows who she's up against. She's fought battles like these before."
Rufus gave a wry smile. "Feminine charms work poorly against a gun, Barret."
"Against guns, true, but I know they work like greens to catch a chocobo when it comes to the guy aiming the gun," Barret grinned, "Aeris is prolly gonna outlive us all."
"And Raito?" Rufus asked softly.
Barret reached out and placed his human hand on the fiery haired man's weary shoulder. "Man, yer forgetting one very important thing while yer beating yerself up over this."
Rufus snorted and glanced over. "And what's that?"
A faint smile. "Cid." Barret gave the shoulder a light squeeze before releasing him. "Sephy might have gone mental on our asses, but there's no way Highwind is gonna let the nutter hurt a kid."
Shaking his head, Rufus fought against the urge to try calling Sephiroth's PHS again despite how he knew it was left behind in Midgar. "Cid went with him, remember? He's probably in Jenova's control too."
"Some people, ShinRa, can't be controlled," Barret sounded almost melancholic. "Cid's one of those. Not many of them in da world, true, but he be one. Ever seen how stubborn that man can be?"
"If Sephiroth fell under Jenova's control, then Cid doesn't stand a chance!" Rufus realised he was constantly torn between anger and worry, and once again he wasn't in control. "I'm sorry, but Sephiroth is the strongest of us all!"
"That's where you're wrong."
Rufus and Barret spun around to see Aeris standing behind them.
The flower girl wrapped her arms around herself, gazing sadly at them. "When it comes to Jenova, Sephiroth is weak." She met Barret's gaze. "Cid is our only hope now."
"Where are they?" Rufus demanded, stalking over to take a hold of her upper arm. "Did they tell you?"
"North," Aeris whispered. "Jenova called them home."
-
A blizzard was raging at the Northern Crater and Rufus closed his eyes hard as the helicopter shook violently. "Are you sure you can do this?"
Reno grinned widely, forcing the aircraft lower despite the winds efforts. "Don't worry, Boss. Helicopters and women are my thing, remember?"
Rufus closed his eyes nervously again when he felt them tilt dangerously. "Just get us down alive, ok?"
"Relaaax! Hey, I'm the one who said you didn't have to tag along!" Reno tightened his grip slightly and slowly made their way through the worst part of the snow. "But did you listen? No! Why listen to Reno? I mean, the guy is only paid to keep the President alive!"
The hyperbole ended abruptly once the helicopter touched solid ground, and the Turk gave a slight nod. They were there. Rock bottom. Ground zero.
In the back, Rude got up and checked his gloves while Elena started preparing the weapons.
Barret glanced cautiously over at Seto. "You gonna be ok walking out there? The snow is pretty high."
The beast nodded, already slinking towards the exit. "I'll manage. Let's only hope I'll be able to catch their scent in this weather..."
The small group made their way out of the aircraft, leaving Reno behind to guard it, and started the last descent into the darkness of the Northern Crater. The snow made their path slippery and heavy to wade through. It was almost enough to take their courage away when suddenly Seto halted.
"I smell them... " Seto lifted his face to the angry wind. "I smell... blood."
A quick exchange of worried looks before they continued, following Seto's trail as he struggled through the snow. It was Barret who spoke next.
"I see something!" The large man trotted eagerly ahead, plowing his way through the snow with renewed energy now that he could make out a figure a small distance away. And true enough, Barret saw it was Sephiroth sitting against the rock wall. "It's Sephy!"
Rufus started violently, making his way over as Barret was kneeling down beside the fallen man. "Is he alive?"
Barret nodded, glancing back at the others with a frown. "He's alive, but the man is messed up bad. Got some serious cuts here." He glanced back at the silver haired man when Rufus kneeled down beside them as well. "We'd better get him out of here before the cold finished what the beating didn't."
"Oh dear Planet..." Elena's whisper was barely heard through the raging blizzard, but the horror in her voice caught everyone's attention. Even Rude chose to leave the unconscious Sephiroth behind and walk over to her side. They could see him start violently as he too stared at what was behind the turn.
Rufus struggled to his feet. "What?" He made his way over to the two Turks. "What is..." His voice trailed away at the sight that met him.
Blood everywhere. On the steep rock walls, painting them with crimson streaks. Mixing with the snow on the ground. In the deep scars in the mountains from unnatural claws tearing into them. So much blood.
And Cid Highwind lying in the middle of the small clearing. Curled up, half on his side, half on his stomach.
"No, man... No!" Barret got up abruptly and ran over, not stopping until he fell to his knees beside the blonde. "Ya ain't dead, ya fool! Y'hear?" With a trembling human hand, he reached out and gently moved Cid. His surprise did not decrease when he revealed Raito, still asleep, underneath the pilot. "Dammit, Cid..."
"What happened here?" Rufus asked with quiet horror. "Why would..."
"Ain't no time be asking whys!" Barret snapped angrily. "We gotta get them outta this here snow! Get'em back to Midgar!"
They started into action. Elena cradled Raito close, Barret and Rufus hoisted Cid up, while Rude walked over to Sephiroth. However, the moment the Turk touched by him, there was a low murmur.
"Sephiroth?" Rude kneeled down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Can you confirm hearing me?"
"He held back..."
"What?" The Turk leaned slightly closer. "I didn't hear..."
"I tried to kill him, and he... held back..." Sephiroth mumbled absently, followed by the ghost of an agonized excuse for a laughter. "Held back the dragon... Wouldn't let it kill me..."
Rude hesitated for a moment, but as no more words were spoken, the Turk got up and pulled the silver haired man with him.
Shera gazed in through the window, watching as the nurse made her final touch on the IV while the doctor came out of the room.
-
"He's not going to make it, is he?" Shera said silently, crossing her arms in an effort to stay gathered, yet not taking her eyes of the still form of Cid Highwind in the white bed. So very still. So pale.
The doctor glanced in through the window as well, clutching his file close. A moment passed. Then he sighed and avoided looking at her. "I'm sorry..."
A shiver went through Shera and her arms tightened as her eyes filled with tears. "Yeah... Me too..." She swallowed hard. "Can I...?"
Nodding, the doctor made his escape. "Go ahead."
Shera hesitated for a moment, but then drew a deep breath and entered the room. Waiting by the door until the nurse left. And only then did she manage to make her way over to Cid's side. "Hey again, Captain..."
"Hey, yerself..." Cid slurred drowsily, struggling to open his eyes. "Raito...? And Sephiroth... Is he...?"
Sitting down on the side of the bed, taking one of his hands in hers, Shera cleared her throat. "Raito never got a scratch, and you prevented him from freezing to death by shielding him from the snow. Sephiroth's going to be fine according to the doctors. Healing fast."
Cid gave a weak nod.
"Just like you," Shera added and clutched his hand a little harder. He felt cold.
"Liar," Cid mumbled with a weak grin.
He always knew when she was lying, Shera realised as she stared down at their hands. All these years, and she could never lie good enough for him to actually believe it. "Cid, I..."
Blue eyes under heavy eyelashes finally focused on her and Cid managed a faint shake of his head. "Don't." Silence followed until he drew a slow and deep breath. "Listen, when that kid comes along, Shera..."
Starting, Shera gazed quickly up at his face.
"When that kid comes along, you tell him his daddy is sorry he couldn't be there to meet him, yeah...?" The pilot forced the agonizing taste of regret away. "You tell him... his daddy acted like an idiot, but... he really wanted to be there..."
Shera trembled hard as tears began pouring from her eyes. "Cid, please..."
A weak squeeze of his hand and Cid closed his eyes. "S'okay, Shera..."
"No, it's not!" The brunette choked out through the tears. "It's not okay! This... This isn't fair!"
Cid gave another faint and tired smile. "Life ain't ever fair, Shera..." He forced his eyes open again to look at her. "But you tell our kid that I'm sorry, ok? And you make sure... he doesn't end up like no pansy ass... Show him the sky, Shera..."
"I will," Shera whispered as she leaned down to gently rest her head on his chest, silently weeping as her heart shattered. "And I will tell him I love his daddy so much..."
The blonde swallowed hard, having trouble fighting against the urge to join Shera in screaming that it wasn't fair. "And, Shera...? Don't blame Sephiroth..."
Tensing, Shera didn't reply at first. She couldn't believe what he was asking of her! She wasn't allowed to hate the man who murdered her Captain? "I'll try not to, Cid."
"Promise me?"
Damn, the man didn't fight fairly, even when he was too weak to lift a hand to demand she'd shake on it. Shera gulped down some air, trying to keep her voice steady even as her tears was slowly soaking the sheet. "I promise I'll try, Cid."
Cid let his eyes drift shut again, so horribly tired, and let numbness take over him again.
Shera straightened to watch him as the blonde slowly drifted into sleep again, biting her lower lip hard enough to bleed to keep from making any sounds that could wake him. This was all her fault! She drove him to this! If it hadn't been for her, Cid wouldn't have followed Sephiroth just to get away from her and their problems, and if he hadn't done that; Cid would have been fine now! He would stomp around, cursing and gazing at the sky with longing.
Oh, dear Planet, how was she supposed to survive if he wasn't there?
Was it even possible to live without a heart?
-
AN; Once again, I can only apologize for the late update, but I hope that as the summer is just about over, things will calm down and I will have time to write regularly again! I have several questions that I DO intend to answer, but with the severely limited time I have, I decided to prioritize a chapter update, but I will get to those questions, I promise! Thank you so much, you wonderful readers, for still sticking with me!