Chapter 28 – Reckoning
Warnings: violence, yaoi sex, foul language
Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own FFVII or Crisis Core or any of the characters! (Although I have a room ready for them if they show up.) XD
General Sephiroth keyed his PHS and waited while it connected, looking out the glass sides of the elevator as it dropped him down the outside of ShinRa Headquarters. When Inoue answered, Sephiroth's voice was clipped and serious. "Inoue, I need you. Bring the sedan. I'm activating my beacon now." He pressed a series of buttons on the PHS and saw the little icon begin blinking in the corner of the screen.
"Scanning," he heard Inoue say … and in the background he could hear the jingling of keys and the sound of a car door opening and closing. "Got it. Be there in ten." The sound of the sedan's engine starting up was the last thing Seph heard before disconnecting.
The elevator doors opened and he strode out, ignoring everyone in his path. Those in his path weren't in it for long – as soon as people saw him and read the intent look on his face, they all backed off and moved to the side. Murmurs sprang up behind him. He didn't care. All he cared about was getting to the bottom of Cloud's kidnapping.
Cloud's. Kidnapping. That motherfucker Santari. Rage flooded through him, making his hands shake and his jaw clench. That goddamned prick.
When Sephiroth reached the quad, he broke into a run, crossing the large open courtyard in a matter of seconds. He slid to a stop at the main gates, then walked out and looked down the street for Inoue. Not in sight yet. He began to pace, walking back and forth along the sidewalk, frowning. People out here steered clear of him too. He probably had no idea what kind of aura he was putting off, but others picked up on it fairly easily: DANGER. Approach at your own risk. No-one dared.
A twinkle of reflected light caught his attention … in the street near the gutter's edge. Sephiroth stomped over and stared down at – Cloud's glasses. Scratched and with one earpiece bent. A wave of fury slashed through his chest like a serrated sword. His hand shook as he bent over and picked them up. If Cloud is hurt … if he has hurt Cloud, I will kill that cocksucker.
The squeal of brakes, the screech of tires – Inoue pulled up alongside the curb. Sephiroth yanked open the passenger door and got in, placing Masamune between them and slamming the door behind him. "Head under the plate," he said as Inoue pulled away from the curb and back into traffic. "Sector 7."
"Yes, sir," Inoue said, and picked up speed. He kept his mind on the traffic flow, driving quickly and expertly, listening in as the general made a call to SOLDIER 2nd Zack Fair, getting an address for one 'Ravien Santari', and listening as Zack spoke to him about a taxi company.
"You tell them that if they don't release the information, I will be making a personal stop at their motherfucking establishment to find out why the fuck not," the general said through clenched teeth. "Reiterate to them just how unhappy with them I am at the moment, and that … what? Fine. Go ahead and tell them I am armed."
Inoue couldn't hear what Zack said in reply, but within thirty seconds the general had his information – which just happened to match up perfectly with the address he'd received for this Santari person. Inoue wheeled the sedan around a sharp corner and took the tunnel exit that would take them on a spiral trip down under the Plate. From there it would be another 15 minutes or so to get to Sector 7.
"Sir …" he began, but was immediately cut off by his boss.
"Just drive, Inoue," Sephiroth said. "I'll fill you in on what's going on in just a fuckin' minute here." He continued speaking with Zack.
"Did anyone see them?" Pause. "What did the goddamned taxi driver say, was Cloud all right?" Inoue glanced over at his boss' face … it tightened and his jaw clenched as Fair answered. "Did that fucker say anything to the taxi driver?" Pause. "He asked the way to where?" Longer pause. "You think he's smart enough to think like that?" Pause. "I'll call ya when I get to his place. How much head start does the prick have right now?" Pause. "You don't need to—" Agitated pause. "Fine, then I'll meet you there. Fuck. All right." Click.
Inoue waited. He knew General Sephiroth hadn't forgotten that he'd said he'd tell Inoue about what was going on, and it wasn't his place to prod him into releasing information. He just drove, one hand on the wheel, one on the horn, clearing the way and sliding into holes in traffic that were barely big enough for the sedan to fit into.
"Okay. Okay," he heard Sephiroth murmur to himself, then he took a deep breath. "Inoue, here's what's happening …."
XXX
It was dark. He had searing pains in his wrists and ankles and a dull ache in his head and his back. What the fuck was going on? Opening his eyes, he gingerly moved his head and looked around. A thin crack of light to his right, but all the rest was pure black.
It was when he tried to lift a hand to his pounding head that he realized that his wrists were bound. A quick check revealed that his ankles were tied as well. He rolled onto his back and sat up – almost all the way, but he was stopped from sitting all the way up by smacking his head against the low ceiling. A trunk. He was in the trunk of a vehicle, and as he could tell now as he regained more and more of his senses – it was moving.
Timeless interval of pain and frustration and fear … and then the vehicle came to a stop. The trunk lid popped open and daylight flooded the interior. Cloud looked up through squinted eyes and saw Ravien standing there, looking down at him. He looked dismayed, almost horrified, as he stared down at Cloud. A sob escaped him and then he reached for the trunk lid.
"Mmm!" Cloud tried to yell through his gag, shaking his head. "Mm-mm! Mmm!" It started to close so he straightened his legs (agony raced up them) and flung his feet over the edge of the trunk. Ravien stopped the trunk's downward momentum just in time. "Mm-mm! Mmm!" Cloud put all his feelings into his eyes. Please don't leave me here like this, Ravien. No, please. I'm thirsty. I need to piss. Please.
Oh and by the way? – I'm scared. I'm so scared. Please don't kill me.
Ravien stood at the open trunk, staring down at Cloud. Cloud lay there, looking up at him, blinking, shaking his head. Finally Ravien leaned in and pulled the duct tape off Cloud's mouth.
"Augh!" Cloud yelled. That really hurt!
"I've got your magic bracelet thing here, so you can't cast any magic on me, Cloud," Ravien said in a low voice. "That's what you were gonna do before, right? Burn me?"
"N-no," Cloud said, his voice rusty from thirst and misuse. "I was going to put you to sleep."
Silence for a few seconds. Then, "oh."
"Ravien … can you let me outta here now? M-my muscles are cramping and I gotta pee." Cloud tried not to beg, but he was really really worried about what Ravien would do next. He'd watched those crime shows before … sometimes the perps started feeling worried about what they'd done and decided to kill their hostage and run for it. He didn't want Ravien to feel like he had to make that decision. Had to keep things calm.
He looked up at Ravien, licked his dry lips, and waited. Suddenly Ravien reached in and pulled him bodily out of the trunk and stood him on his bound feet, but Cloud's legs folded underneath him. Ravien held him up wordlessly, then after Cloud's balance was restored and the tingling in his legs stopped, he leaned over and sliced through the wire ties that bound Cloud's ankles.
In the few seconds that Ravien was bent over, Cloud's eyes searched their surroundings urgently. They were outside the city. On their left was a hedgerow and then a treeline, thick forest behind it. On the right, fields of tall chocobo greens stood as far as he could see in both directions. He could not recognize where they were or where they might be headed. No road signs. Fuck. When Ravien straightened up, Cloud said, "Are you gonna help me piss or untie my hands?"
He ended up helping, standing behind Cloud with his arms around him, holding his penis so he could urinate into the grass, Ravien's hot breath stirring the short up-spiked hairs on the back of Cloud's neck. When they got back on the road again, Cloud was no longer in the trunk, but in the passenger seat, wrists bound to the handrail on the door. He had a drink between his legs with a long straw. Nothing had ever tasted so good. He drank his fill, then watched the road for a while before finally saying, "Ravien … I … what are you doin', man?"
XXX
The door to Ravien Santari's apartment couldn't hold up to two kicks from a big black leather boot. It splintered and opened, hanging lopsided from the hinges. Sephiroth entered with Masamune's long blade held out in front of him, his eyes darting here and there as he took in the scene. He sent out a casting of Sense, listening and feeling for any presence within the apartment. Nothing. He sheathed the sword and hurriedly searched the small living space. Other than open closet doors and a mostly-empty fridge, there was nothing that appeared to be out of place. He looked for any sign that Cloud had been there, that Cloud had been hurt there. Nothing. No blood, no wisps of blond hair, no tattered clothing. Nothing to suggest that Cloud hadn't left the apartment in one piece.
Zack bounded into the apartment, his own sword held out in front of him. "Seph!" he called, then relaxed once he saw the general walk out of the bedroom door. Zack looked at him, eyebrows up … and got a shake of the head in return. "Not here, huh? But they were here?"
Sephiroth's voice was slightly raspy. "They were. Stopped off, for supplies. Didn't stay long. Gone now."
"Fuck."
"Yeah."
Zack sheathed his sword and looked around, much like Sephiroth had done. He came out from the bathroom with a small piece of paper in his hand. "Found this in the bathroom waste basket," he explained, handing it over to Sephiroth. It was a receipt.
"He rented a car."
"And left the receipt here? Is he an idiot or just careless?" Zack scratched his head.
Sephiroth frowned down at the receipt. "Or is it something to throw us off?"
"Did he really have time for that? You gotta know, he was in a hurry, and this was a snap thing, wasn't it? I mean, he hasn't been plannin' to kidnap Cloud all this time, right?"
"I don't think so. But look at this. The date is two fuckin' days ago. If he wasn't planning a kidnapping, he was at least planning a trip. And maybe he forgot that he tossed it in the trash. The prick was in a hurry to get out of town, maybe, and just grabbed stuff and left." Sephiroth was frowning murderously.
"Hey … don't worry, we'll find 'em, okay man? Don't worry. Okay … let me call in the description of the car. And I'll have 'em set up roadblocks, too … let's see, how much time has passed …."
"Roadblocks won't do any good. He'll hit one of the back roads if he's got any smarts at all … but he doesn't know this area, he doesn't know this fucking continent!" Sephiroth pulled out his PHS and hit speed dial. "Inoue. Bring up the maps. Apartment 3D." He hit disconnect.
Zack finished calling in the description of the rented car to the Security Police, putting out an all-points bulletin for the kidnapper of a ShinRa SOLDIER candidate. Inoue entered the apartment and laid out an Eastern Continent map on Santari's low living room table. All three men bent over it.
"So … he asked the taxi driver for directions to Kalm …." Sephiroth murmured.
XXX
Ravien drove with one hand on the wheel, the other loose in his lap. He looked tired, Cloud noticed. Tired, stressed-out, worried, scared … he could read all these emotions on his former friend's face. He had not answered Cloud when he'd asked what he was doing, just tromped the accelerator and kept on driving, flicking his eyes to the rearview mirror every several seconds.
The landscape rolled by. Fields of chocobo greens and pastureland gave way to rolling hills and forests, which gradually began to climb into foothills of distant mountains. By the way the sun moved, Cloud could tell they were heading south. [A/N – for those who don't know: Kalm is north of Midgar] Cloud tried to calm his nerves, tried to think about what was going on, but he knew that he had to get Ravien talking if he was going to make any headway with his former friend. And keep him seeing Cloud as a person and a friend – not as a problem that needed to be solved. That's how kidnapped people ended up dead.
The sun was lower in the sky when Ravien softly spoke, taking Cloud by surprise. He jerked his head around toward Ravien and had to lean over a bit. He could barely hear the words. "I'm rescuing you," Rav said, eyes on the road. "That's what I'm doin'. It's a rescue, keepin' you out of harm's way, keepin' ya out of that freak's hands, makin' you safe."
Cloud swallowed. So that's how Ravien was looking at it. "I get that part," he said. "But … maybe you should think about somethin', Rav." He used the old nickname for his 'friend', hoping he could get through to him and keep him from becoming violent. "I'm not just Cloud Strife from Nibelheim anymore, y'know? I'm a Cadet in the ShinRa Armies … and they won't take this very well."
Silence fell, wherein Cloud hoped Ravien was thinking things over, maybe coming to the conclusion that—
"We're going to Junon," he said quietly. "We'll be able to hide there, in a big city like that. They'll never find us."
"Never is a long time, Rav, are you sure that—"
"You see, Cloudy, you don't know everything. You don't know what that general really is. But I do. I used to break into the ShinRa mansion in Nibelheim all the time, you remember that? Well after you and I had our … falling out, I broke in there a lot. And down in the basement I found some stuff. Some doctors and scientists had done some experiments down there and left some of their papers behind. Lots of them have to do with that Sephiroth guy. He's not what you think he is." Ravien blew through a stop sign and kept going south. The mountains were getting much closer now. Cloud glanced at the speedometer – Ravien was holding a steady 90 mph, the road wasn't great but he was able to easily navigate the bumps and potholes as he flew down the pavement.
"Then … then what is he, Rav? I don't understand."
"I know you don't. It was hard to figure out, but he's not really human. He's not like you and me, Cloud. He's some kind of 'made' person, I'm not sure really what they meant, but he was grown like a germ in a lab culture. How can that be human? I don't see how someone like that could even have a soul! How could he love anyone? Answer: he can't! Look at all the lovers he's taken … then discarded once he was done with them! I couldn't let that happen to you, Cloud! I couldn't!"
He was getting agitated again, and Cloud didn't want that to happen. "Okay, okay, Rav … I understand, just calm down, okay? I'm listening." He leaned toward Ravien, his expression one of concern, trying to hide the fear that was still clawing at his guts.
"I wish I could show it all to you. You're smart, you'd figure it all out in a hurry. But it's all there, Cloud … Project S. That's his real name."
Cloud looked down at his lap, bent down and took a drink off the straw to gain some time to think. Project S? What the fuck?
XXX
Genesis and Angeal stepped off the Sky King onto the landing field at Midgar, then stood aside and watched as their injured comrades were slowly lowered over the side. "Any leads on where that fucker Hollander went?" Genesis asked quietly as the wounded troops were carried off the landing pad.
"We got a transponder blip just before they totally went off the radar," Angeal said, bringing his friend up to date. "They were over the ocean, and appeared to be heading for the Western Continent. After that, nothing. We were lucky to get that! Motherfucker."
"Motherfucker is right," Genesis agreed, gritting his teeth with frustration.
The friends turned and began walking off the landing pad once the last of their men was gone. Iwaki, Macomb, and Vasquez filed in behind them as they left the airfield. "Guys, we're gonna go report in to Lazard. You're off-duty as of now. Go take a couple days' break, but stay in town. If we need ya, we'll call ya in," Angeal said. "Good work. Not your fault it all went to hell."
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," the three SOLDIERs said in unison, then kept walking when Genesis and Angeal stopped to talk in the corridor.
"Get cleaned up, eat, get some rest, get back on the trail," Genesis said.
"Yeah," Angeal agreed. He looked at his beloved, eyes hopeful but wary.
"Locker room," Genesis said, turning away. "Report in … hit the Chow Hall … then we'll go to your place. Okay?"
"Yeah," Angeal said, and followed the redhead with a bit of a spring in his step.
XXX
Three men bent over the large map where it was spread out on Ravien Santari's table – where he and Cloud had sat and talked not long ago. Sephiroth's finger was planted on Midgar. He scanned the map and frowned. "He said he was going to Kalm … but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Little mythril mining town, not much there, two newcomers would stick out like a sore thumb."
"Also not much of a 'stopover' place if he was looking to just go there first," Zack added, looking at the map of Kalm and its environs. "I mean … there's nothin' else up there. Unless he's set up some kind of place in the wilderness, Kalm is all there is up there."
"Perhaps he didn't leave Midgar at all," Inoue said softly.
"Thought about that. I think he's tossed us a bone, tryin' to lead us off in a bogus direction," Sephiroth said, eyes still on the map. "I don't think he'd stay in Midgar, ShinRa has too large a presence here and he'd have to be on his fuckin' guard 24-7, even if he somehow convinces Cloud to stay with him." His stomach was burning. Is this was some people called 'heartburn'? How strange … he'd never had anything like it before.
"Makes sense," Zack was saying. "Well, if I was looking to lead someone away from the way I was really lookin' to go … I'd do the opposite."
"South," Sephiroth said. They all looked at the map. "Junon. Has to be."
"Makes sense. Big city, reduced ShinRa presence, port option if he wants to get back to Nibelheim or over to Costa del Sol …." Zack was thinking, one finger tapping the side of his mouth.
"He could hide in Junon until the heat died down a bit, then go anywhere else in the world. Personally, I'd have Wutai as my final stop," Inoue said, considering.
"He won't get that far," Sephiroth growled. "Zack, my airship on standby?"
"When is it ever not?" Zack popped back.
"Tell'em to get'er ready. When I get there, we're fuckin' leavin'."
"Got it. Flight plan for Junon, right?"
"Where else?" Sephiroth stood up, grabbed Masamune, and strode out. Inoue rolled up the maps and hurried after his boss. Zack stood up, looked around, and shook his head.
"Hope you're all right, Cloudy," he muttered, then hurried out the broken door after his boss.
XXX
Angeal and Genesis had showered, turned their clothes in for cleaning, and had then hurried over to ShinRa Army HQ to report in to Director Lazard. Genesis thought momentarily about reporting in to Sephiroth instead, but at the last minute he decided against it, since it'd been Lazard's baby from the get-go. Let them keep Seph in the loop, or not. It'd be their asses if they didn't keep the CO in the know about what was going on in his army.
"After this, we eat," Angeal said. "My stomach is eatin' a fuckin' hole in my side."
"Got it," Genesis said.
They found the director in his office, looking harried. Since normally the tall good-looking man never had one hair out of place, they both stopped in their tracks and looked at each other for a second, then turned their eyes back to Lazard, who looked up and waved them in.
"Sir, reporting in—" Angeal started but was cut off before he could really begin.
"I know, I know, just wait a minute, please," Lazard said, picking up a ringing phone on his desk. He held up a finger for Genesis' and Angeal's benefit, then spoke into the mouthpiece. "Well? What's going on." Pause, wherein the Director frowned and blew out a frustrated breath. "The cook kidnapped him ... and he's on his way to where?" Pause, while tapping on his keyboard. "The general and who?" Pause. "Fine. Standard resources, moderate severity, after all we don't know that the cook has hurt him in any way …." Pause. "Yes, well, other than the original sedative, yes." A longer pause, more tapping at the computer keyboard. "Fine. Approved. Yes … yes …. Do that." He hung up the phone.
Genesis and Angeal had been following this one-sided conversation with mild-to-moderate anxiety, especially once they heard 'the general' mentioned. "What's going on, Lazard?" Genesis was the first to voice the obvious question.
Lazard sighed, looking harried and harassed. "Some idiot cook from the ShinRa dining hall kidnapped a cadet today. He's on the run with him, and apparently The General has an interest in this matter." He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "He's going to pursue."
"Uh … would that cadet be Strife, Director?" Angeal said. If the guy didn't know Sephiroth and Cloud Strife were an 'item', he needed to fire Tseng and hire a new batch of Turks.
"OH … you know about them? Well, then, that makes it all easier. Yes, Cadet Strife. General Sephiroth's BOTM, to quote Scarlet." A thin smile curved his lips.
Angeal and Genesis were fully aware that Scarlet referred to Seph's lovers as "Boy of the Month". She was such a bitch. But Cloud … kidnapped? By a cook? What the fuck! "Anything we can d—" Genesis began, agitation and disbelief warring for control of his voice.
"NO. No," Lazard pointed at them both, his face reflecting the seriousness of his tone. "You two have your own criminal to pursue. Take your down time and then get back on the hunt. We've got all our eyes on the Western Continent looking out for Hollander's airship, it won't be long before we get a hit. So you'd better take this down time while you can get it. I'll be in touch. Dismissed, gentlemen!"
Genesis glared at Lazard and opened his mouth to speak, but Angeal grabbed him by the elbow and practically dragged him out the door. Once it was closed behind them, Gen shouted, "Did you hear what he said?! It's CLOUD! Some fucker kidnapped him! What the hell!?"
"Like Lazard said, it's Sephiroth's problem, Gen!" Angeal shouted back. "Get yer head straight! C'mon, we'll call Seph when we're on the way to my apartment, but we gotta refuel or we won't be any good to anybody! We can potion up, too! C'mon!" He hurried down the hallway toward the elevators.
Genesis stood there for a few seconds, his mouth opening and closing, looking from Lazard's door to Angeal's back … then barked, "FUCK" and ran down the corridor after his friend. What in the hell was going on these days? Was the world going mad? [A/N – oh, Gen … if you only knew]
XXX
The back driver's side door was standing open when Zack exited Santari's apartment building, the nondescript black sedan was starting to pull away from the curb when he tore down the steps. He dove into the back seat, pulling his feet in just in time to avoid the door as it slammed shut due to the car's forward momentum. "Heh!" he shouted, leaning up on both arms to look wide-eyed into the front seat.
"You made it," Sephiroth growled. "Stop fuckin' griping."
"I'm not griping, I'm just glad to still have unbroken ankles!" Zack yelped, sitting up and buckling in.
"Fifteen minutes to the airfield," Inoue murmured quietly, his expert hands on the wheel. "I also told them to lash the President's helicopter to the upper deck."
"Good thinking," Sephiroth said, his eyes out the window, but his thoughts were far away. Cloud. What was happening to Cloud, right at this very minute? His teeth gritted together as he thought about the little blond as he'd seen him that morning … eyes closed, face enraptured, as they'd come together in Seph's bed. That voice moaning his name as ecstasy took hold. Visions of the small male, his face blooming into a smile … his small form a blur as he tore around the track … his delight as he casted magic and leveled up his materia … sleepy beautiful blue eyes looking back at him when they woke up together after sleeping in each other's arms.
He rubbed his eyes with one hand, muttering curses under his breath. His emotions were tangled and jagged, but the one that kept rising to the surface was one he'd not truly felt since he'd reached adulthood: fear. He didn't really know how to handle it. What if that motherfucker freaked out and killed Cloud? Seph could barely stand to let the thought bloom in his mind. Cloud dead. He didn't think he could handle it if that happened. A world without Cloud? What … what could he … how would he live without that small presence in his life?
These thoughts whirled around in his head until the silence in the back seat was broken by the sound of Seph's PHS ringing. He dropped his hand away from his face and pulled it out of his coat, frowning as he saw the ID, then he hit accept. "What."
Angeal: "Checking in. Where are ya?"
"Under the plate. Heading for the airfield."
Angeal: "We're back in Midgar … you know about what's goin' on?"
"I do fuckin' know. BELATEDLY." Sephiroth's voice was sarcastic and angry.
Angeal: "I know. Didn't know they were flyin' under yer radar 'til too late. Woulda gone different if you'd been involved, told'em that, but Lazard—"
"Yeah. I know."
Angeal: "You goin' after Cloud?"
"Yes." Had such a simple word ever sounded so full of anguish and anger?
Not in Angeal's experience. "We're off-duty for a bit then getting' back on Hollander's trail. You need anythin' from us, make the call."
"Will do."
Angeal: "Out."
Sephiroth disconnected and flung the PHS down on the front seat between himself and Inoue. "Fuckin' Lazard," he murmured. "That prick needs to re-learn his place in the Army hierarchy."
"I'm with ya on that one," Zack said, quietly, observing Seph's body language and keeping his tone neutral. The guy was on the edge, that was obvious. "Don't worry, man … we'll find Cloud. And he's gonna be fine, okay? This Santari guy, he likes Cloud, he won't hurt'im."
"You sure about that? What if he fuckin' decides 'if I can't have 'im, nobody can'?" Sephiroth turned halfway in the seat to look at Zack.
Zack was taken aback by the look on Sephiroth's face. It was ravaged with emotion, a rictus of anger and … fear? Holy shit. "We'll find him," he repeated stubbornly.
"Yeah. We will." Sephiroth turned back around, looking out the windshield as Inoue exited the tunnel onto the Plate. "But what shape will Cloud be in?"
XXX
The sun was nearing the horizon as Ravien's rented car maneuvered along the mountain pass, tearing down the curving road with its basically-useless guard rails. Cloud wanted to tell Rav to slow down, but he didn't want to harass the guy in any way. They'd passed through a small village at the base of the mountains, not stopping, then gassed up at a self-serve station outside of town. With no need for people at the automated station, Cloud had no opportunity to try to get help. Besides, he didn't want to drag anyone else into this situation … that might end up getting that person hurt. So he'd just sat still in the front seat, feeling Ravien's eyes on him, watching him in case he made any wrong moves.
Nothing more had been said after Ravien's remark about Sephiroth being "Project S". He didn't want to antagonize the brunette, didn't want to distract him. Glancing over at Ravien where he wrestled the steering wheel, he saw the sweat stains under the arms of his cook's whites, the clenching muscles in his jaw, the white knuckles of his clutching hands. Keep it cool, Cloud, he thought to himself. Keep it cool, keep him on an even keel, make him think you're completely cowed. Keep it cool. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
…
Cloud woke up, startling awake with a jostling movement of the car. What the fuck?! He'd fallen asleep?! He straightened up in the seat, looking around. It was dark outside, the road ahead was straight as far as he could see in the headlights, and they were on a gentle downslope. He cleared his throat and took a drink from the straw, trying to ignore the pain in his shoulders from having his wrists tied to the door for so long.
"We're about an hour out of Junon," Ravien said, glancing over at Cloud. "Get some good rest?" he asked.
"Y-Yeah," Cloud said. Ravien seemed a lot more relaxed now, Cloud thought, looking at him. Had … had something happened?
"I took a Potion while you were out," Ravien said. "Had some in the apartment. Remedy, too. I'm feelin' a lot better now."
"Uh, good," Cloud said, still worried as hell.
"You know … I don't want to have to hurt you, Cloud," Ravien said, taking a sip from a bottle between his legs. "I just want to be with you, and keep you safe. You were stumbling into something you didn't know enough about. With someone who not only doesn't deserve you, but who isn't even a real human. You can see that I couldn't let that happen to someone I love."
Cloud swallowed, repeating his 'keep it cool' mantra to himself, and said, "I do see that, Rav."
"We'll start over, Cloud. Just you and me. Eventually let's go to Wutai, okay? We can live there together and be happy. I'll work and make money, enough for us to live and not worry. I can make you happy, Cloud, you'll see. You'll forget all about ShinRa and … everything else. We'll be happy." Ravien was smiling, apparently envisioning this future.
Cloud didn't know what to say. Sephiroth, he thought. Sephiroth.
Ravien took his right hand off the wheel and reached across the seat to stroke Cloud's hair, very gently. "So soft," he murmured, eyes on the road. His hand traveled down to Cloud's neck, caressing it softly, and slid down onto his shoulder and down his arm, squeezing and petting.
Oh fuck, Cloud thought. What do I do now?!
"It's okay," Ravien said, his voice shaking with laughter, "don't worry, I won't do anything while I'm driving. I just want to touch you, Cloud. I love you. I love you. I've always loved you."
Cloud could not answer. He was steeling himself to stay still, to not draw away in revulsion. Keeping it cool.
Ravien's hand dropped onto Cloud's lap and squeezed his thigh, then rubbed back and forth and up and down, petting and caressing, coming close to Cloud's limp penis but not quite touching it. "When we get where we're going, I'll show you. I'll show you how much I love you, how good it can be with a real human man, you'll see, Cloud. What you had … the things you did with that thing … that was all fake. I'll show you. You'll see."
Cloud turned his head to look out the side window at the darkness, his eyes stinging. It wasn't fake. Sephiroth was real. And his love … that was very very real. Sephiroth, he thought. Sephiroth.
XXX
When the sedan pulled up alongside the Black Mage's Bane, Reno stood nearby, indolently smoking a cigarette as he watched the crew finish fueling up the airship. When the car screeched to a stop, he flicked the butt off to the side and shambled over, his tie loose, his shirt out of his pants and unbuttoned down to his sternum. He stuck his hands into his pockets and rocked on his heels when the doors opened and Sephiroth and Zack got out.
"What're you doin' here?" Sephiroth grouched at the redhead.
"We heard about what was goin' on," he said roughly, popping another cigarette between his lips. "Tseng told me and Rude. And then he told us you were taking the helo. Well, I'm the best helicopter pilot around. So I'm goin' along." He lit the cig and inhaled, blew out a cloud of smoke, staring up at Sephiroth with squinted eyes.
Seph looked at the slight redhead, the crazy hair and the tattoos … then remembered the report that had, indeed, listed him as the best helicopter pilot they'd seen come through the training course in decades. He was fearless and seemed to know intuitively what the helicopter could do, what it could handle. Some of the videos he'd seen would make your hair curl … but Reno had laughed as he flew, a cigarette jammed between his teeth, a grin on his face.
"Let's go," the general finally said, and Reno was the first to dart off in the direction of the boarding ramp, with Zack right behind him.
Sephiroth leaned over and looked at Inoue through the passenger window. "Keep an eye on things," he said.
"Always, sir," Inoue said, handing out the sword. Seph took it.
"I'll keep in touch," Sephiroth said, knocked his knuckles on the roof of the car.
"Good luck, General."
…
The Black Mage's Bane flew through the night, eating up the miles as it made a bee-line for the port city of Junon. The radar unit beeped as it made sweeps of the countryside in front of and below the speeding airship. Several times it had blipped, and the airship had dived in order to make a more detailed view of the vehicles it had detected. Scaring the pants of motorists wasn't really what Sephiroth wanted to do, but he had to check them all. No matter. Let ShinRa sort out the lawsuits if there were any. Who fucking cared about some scared civilians? You deal with it, Pres.
They gained altitude as they cruised over the mountains, dipped again into the plains beyond, then rose up again to cross the smaller mountain range just northeast of Junon. It was approximately 0445 when the radar blipped again. "Got another one, General," Rude said from the radar operator's seat. "Passenger vehicle, rate of speed … approximately 95mph."
Sephiroth stepped up behind him, put a hand on the back of Rude's seat, and leaned forward to look at the glowing screen. "Scan it," he ordered.
"Yessir," Rude said, and did so. Within seconds, the report came back. "Two occupants."
"That's it," Reno said. "That's the car, that's the one, let's go." He jumped to his feet.
"How do you know, Red?" Zack said from where he was draped over the Overseer's chair.
"I just do. I can feel it. C'mon, General, time's wastin', let's get in the chopper and GO!" He ran out the door, Sephiroth's squinting gaze on his back.
He turned that intense gaze on Rude. "Well?"
"He's pretty good about things like this," Rude said, his eyes still on the blip ahead on the screen. "Won't hurt to give it a try … and this works out time-line wise, too. They'd be about here if Santari was keeping it pegged in the nineties for the trip."
"All right," Sephiroth said. "Zack, you're got the Bane. Keep in touch."
Zack could only stammer, "But …" before Sephiroth was gone, following Reno toward the upper deck. Everyone could hear the helo start up. Zack shot to his feet. "Wait … he's gonna launch from this airship while it's MOVING?!"
"Easy, man," Rude said. "He does it all the time. Scares the shit out of people, but like he said: he's the best helicopter pilot around." He seemed remarkably unworried.
Zack wiped his forehead, eyes wide. "Holy shit."
XXX
The two SOLDIERs had laid waste to the Chow Hall, practically decimating the food line and re-stoking their furnaces. Now they were in Angeal's apartment, reclining on the couch, sated and winding down so they could get some rest before resuming the search for that prick Hollander.
Angeal yawned, rubbing his eyes. How long since he'd slept? Really slept? Seemed like ages. Since before he'd … done what he did to Genesis. He glanced over at the redhead beside him. Genesis, reclining in a white t-shirt and ragged jeans, had his head flung back on the back of the couch, his fingers laced across his stomach. "Gen, listen, before this goes any further, I gotta talk to ya about somethin' …."
"Yeah?" Genesis said, opening his eyes and turning to look at Angeal.
Angeal felt a twisting in his guts. "Look … it's about the other night. I really … I mean … dammit, I'm so—"
"Don't you say it again Ang," Genesis interrupted furiously. "Don' you fucking say that shit again." He rolled, twice, until he was splayed atop Angeal's body. His arms snaked around the startled brunet, molding himself close and holding him tight.
"G-Gen?" To say Angeal was startled was the understatement of the year! He was absolutely astonished. "What? I mean, huh? What are you—"
"Shut up, Ang," Genesis said, and then his lips were on Angeal's, kissing him with lazy thoroughness. After Angeal finally responded, they kissed for a bit longer, then Genesis pulled back and looked into his friend's wide eyes. "Come on. No talking. We can talk after all this bullshit is done. Right now, we gotta rest … and I mean it." He stood up and pulled Angeal to his feet, then snuggled into his arms. A disbelieving Angeal belatedly wrapped his arms around the redhead, enclosing him in warmth.
"Gen," he said softly, his voice soft with wonder.
"I love ya," Genesis said. "Just keep that in mind, and don't fucking die while we're catching this bastard. I'm yours … you saw to that, didn'tcha … but we got work to do. So c'mon, let's get some sleep and then catch the motherfucker who killed my folks."
They walked arm-in-arm into Angeal's bedroom, fell onto the bed, kissed each other goodnight, and were almost-instantly taken by exhausted sleep. Angeal was smiling as he dropped off, his nose buried in that sweet-smelling red hair. "Gen," he murmured. "Gen."
XXX
"… and then when we get to Wutai, we can live on the beach," Ravien was saying, still in full-on fantasy mode. "After I've worked as a chef for a while, I'll open my own restaurant. We'll be happy, Cloud." He turned to smile at Cloud as a roaring sound caught both their attention.
"What's that?" Cloud said, craning his neck to look out the passenger window.
Ravien pumped the brakes, a frown furrowing his brow. "I don't know. But I bet it ain't good." He sped up then, tromping the accelerator and making the car leap forward.
…
"There it is, General," Reno said, the ever-present cigarette dangling from his lips. Below them on the highway, headlights and taillights were all that could clearly be seen of a fast-moving vehicle, tearing down the road toward Junon. Sephiroth was smoking, too, but tossed the cig out the open side vent window as he leaned forward.
"Close in," Sephiroth said, glaring down at the vehicle.
"They're speeding up."
"So then you speed up. It ain't fuckin' rocket science," Sephiroth growled.
"No problem!" Reno chortled, grinning around that cigarette. He pushed the stick forward, making the helo dive toward the speeding car. "I bet that's them! That's gotta be them!" he yelled through an exhale of smoke.
The sun was rising.
…
"I think it's a helicopter!" Cloud yelled. "Ravien, slow down! You're gonna kill us both, man, slow down!"
"No! NO!" Ravien's desperation showed in his face. "You … it's him, isn't it? Isn't it! I won't let him take you away, Cloud, I just WON'T!" He floored the accelerator, leg straight, hands clenched onto the steering wheel.
As the sun peeked over the horizon.
…
"Get in front of them," Sephiroth said, strangely calm now that he had his quarry in his sights.
"Huh?" Reno glanced over at the General.
"You heard me, get in front and hover."
"You got it." The helicopter sped up and dove once more.
…
"Ravien! Ravien, stop!" Cloud's eyes were wide. The speedometer was pegged on 125, but he knew they were going faster than that.
"NO! Cloud! That motherfucking sonofabitch! I won't let him have you! I won't! You're MINE, Cloud! You're—" He stopped speaking, leaned forward, and shouted wordlessly, rage turning his face into a red contorted parody of his usual visage. "BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU MOTHERFUCKING BASTARD!"
What?! Cloud turned away from Ravien to look out the windshield. In the brightening sunlight, still pink and warm from the dawn, up ahead on the road: a black and white figure, standing stockstill in the middle of the road. A helicopter hovered overhead and off to the side, just … hovered there like it was painted onto the sky.
And Ravien was bearing down on the figure in the road. Cloud knew there was only one person that could be. "SEPHIROTH!" he shouted. "NO! RAVIEN, NO!" He kicked out with his feet, hanging from the door, trying to shatter Ravien's concentration, to make him swerve, something ANYTHING. "RAVIEN!"
Ravien laughed, crazy whooping gales of laughter, while tears streamed from his eyes, his hands gripping the steering wheel in a rictus of deadly intent. The car barreled down the highway, the black and white figure now became more clear … oh, yes. It was Sephiroth, all right, standing still and straight, right on the dotted line between the lanes. "MONSTER!" Ravien yelled! "KILL YOU KILL YOU!"
Cloud gasped around a sob, his kicks were doing nothing, Ravien must be mad, he had to be! When he began to laugh about killing Sephiroth, Cloud couldn't help it, he raised his head and looked out the windshield. The car screamed down the highway, Sephiroth stood there calmly, the car ate up the road between them, they were heading right for him, Cloud screamed as Ravien laughed –
And then Sephiroth leapt into the air JUST as the car neared him, flinging himself upwards, the long blade glinting in his hands, swinging around as he cartwheeled in mid-air. There was a screaming crunching wrenching sound – and suddenly the car was skidding down the road, beginning to veer off despite Ravien's desperate turning of the wheel, it went off the road on the right, careening into the ditch and out the other side, noise and wind buffeting the belted occupants of the front seat, Cloud felt his left wrist snap as he struggled to hang on to the door handle he was tied to, he turned his head and looked at Ravien as the car spun and shuddered, and then his gaze was dragged backwards because … because …
Because General Sephiroth had cut the car in half. There was no back seat because there was no back of the car. It was just plain gone.
…
Reno watched from above, whistling when Sephiroth leapt into the air, gasping when that long blade slid effortlessly through the car, shouting when the back half of the car separated and went rolling and flipping through the air off to the left. The front of the car continued on for a bit, then left the road and hit the ditch, came screaming out the other side, turning and skidding as it slowed.
Back on the road, the General had come back to earth, dodged the back end of the car when it came hurtling toward him, then sprang into a run and dashed after the front of the car.
It came to rest in a huge cloud of dust, lodged against the treeline. All was still as Reno watched the General's impossibly fast approach to the front half of the car. He disappeared into the dust. Reno cursed and dipped forward with the helicopter, using the downdraft from the rotors to clear away the dust. He shouted when he saw what was revealed by the soft light of the rising sun.
…
The car had stopped. Cloud raised his head, blinking. Blood flowed from a gash in his forehead, getting in his eyes. He turned to look over at Ravien, who was looking back. He was held tightly in place by the steering wheel, which had him pinned to the front seat.
"Cl-Cloud," he whispered, motioning for him to come closer.
Cloud was dazed. He leaned over as far as his bound wrists would allow, the pain from his broken wrist making him wince. "Ravien … h-hold on, we'll g-get you out ... of here," Cloud managed to say, before blowing dust made him cough.
Ravien's hands wrapped around Cloud's neck, latching on and squeezing tightly. Cloud couldn't try to peel them off, his hands were bound. His eyes opened wide, staring into Ravien's. The hands squeezed tighter, completely cutting off Cloud's air. He became aware that Ravien was speaking, low and fervent. "Love you. Love you. I love you, Cloud. We'll go together, just you and me, together we'll pla—" and the tip of the sword erupted from Ravien's chest, cutting off his words, blood poured from his mouth instead as he was impaled by sharp steel.
His hands fell away from Cloud's neck, who fell back, coughing and gagging. But he looked over the seat to see Sephiroth's furious face, his hand on the hilt of Masamune, the blade that pierced through the seat from the back and came out from Ravien's blood-soaked chest.
The sword withdrew. Ravien slumped down over the steering wheel that held him upright. The passenger-side door was opened – carefully, once Sephiroth saw that Cloud was bound to it. The sword emerged once again, this time to gently cut his wrists loose from the door. Sephiroth gathered Cloud up into his arms, holding him tightly.
From the air, Reno watched, unperturbed that he was a spectator to this intimate dramatic moment. "Daaaamn. Rude, you missed it, man. That was some shit." He laughed and lit a cigarette.
Sephiroth casted Cure 2, watching as the glow settled onto Cloud and healed his hurts … his wrist, his throat. "Cloud," he murmured. "Cloud." He held the blond tightly against him, kissing his hair.
"Sephiroth," Cloud said once he was healed. "Got … gotta tell you somethin'," he said, holding the white-haired man as tightly as he could.
"Cloud," Sephiroth said, the relief at being able to hold his little lover safe in his arms was like a reprieve from a death sentence. "Cloud."
"I … I love you," Cloud said, squeezing his arms tightly around the other man. "I love you. I LOVE YOU."
Sephiroth let go of Cloud with one arm and swung it around his head, looking up, motioning Reno to land and pick them up. Then he looked back down to where Cloud looked up at him. The wind from the rotors picked up again as Reno approached for a landing, and it sent Sephiroth's hair flying around his head in a white halo, some strands blowing and wrapping around Cloud like a soft silken web.
Cloud gazed up at this vision and repeated himself. He had to tell him, just in case some other weird shit parted them before he could let him know. "I love you."
Sephiroth smiled, green eyes aglow. "I know."
XXX
End Chapter 28
Annnnd … I'm spent.
Wow, that really took a lot out of me. Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I felt sorry for Ravien, but really, there was nothing he could do but die. :)
Anyhow, thanks for reading! More to come soon!
Ahvienda
