Sorry for the long wait, it was necessary for my wellbeing, and it made this chapter much better than I hoped it would be. Enjoy!
Squall gripped the bracelet safely stowed away in his pocket as he approached the Church. The Evening was drawing in like closing curtains upon the world, the grass cool, the air chilled and the mountains dusted gold with the last of the sunlight. Squall, finally back in the village after most of the afternoon noticeably absent, walked with his Mother holding onto his arm for support.
People were swarming towards and around the church like water to a drain. The entire village's presence was overwhelming for Squall. It sent nerves through him and his thoughts were full of dread.
Everyone stood dressed in their Sunday best; clothes smart, occasionally colourful, and they were all groomed and presentable. Hats, bonnets, shawls, shoes, it was a rare display of the best wardrobes in the village. Rinoa stood in baby blue as usual, and most others were clan in some kind of fur for the chill of the evening.
Squall, too, had his cleanest clothes on. Matron had given him a scarf and he reluctantly left the red cloak at home- knowing that it was too bright for Church, Father Hojo had terrified him when he had tried to attend on a cold winter day wrapped up in the crimson colour. Beside him in the present day, Edea had also put her best efforts into her appearance; her best shawl around her shoulders, it had the least holes, and she had polished her shoes. Squall tried to insist that she wear furs for her health, the Church was cold and the day would likely not end until they were done there. But she had steadfastly refused, claiming that they had guests to dress for, not just comfort.
"It is not often we have visitors that catch the interest of Father Hojo," her comment broke Squall from his silence. She was an observant woman, Squall knew, and perhaps she had said as much to sooth his nerves? His thoughts kept trickling back to the looming small building, the largest in the village and yet the stuffiest and most confined space Squall could think of, paradoxically. It had his heart beating double time.
He agreed, but was leagues drier about the situation, "Thankfully. If every visitor required this much effort I'm sure we'd stop inviting outsiders." The village looked better than it had for years, all fixed, polished, potholes filled in, fences fixed, doors oiled. There were still the frequent item or repair that was clearly rushed and misshapen. Squall mentally took notice of things as he passed and realised that the resources for this rejuvenation must have been costly …
Squall wondered if the blacksmith had been paid for all his overwork, all his oils.
Naturally, and irritatingly, the Church had the most attention to it. Father Hojo had decided that their massive stone obelisk- the biggest building in their village- did indeed need decorations, after five times of changing his mind. The village breathed a collective sigh of relief when he finally settled. The Church held candles, polished windows, walls, brass and silver. The doors were polished, the handles buffed, the hinges oiled until the oil made spots on the floor. While inside, the interior was a sea of candles and crosses nailed up in every corner, ribbons of black and white over the doors. Squall could see that all from here.
Father Hojo had made other changes to the village besides its overall renewal; he's decided that the tavern would remain vacant and closed, and the food storage would remain unlocked and ajar open for viewing pleasure.
Squall thought he was stupid.
There wasn't even a guard for the doors! Squall worried about rats. The village worried about pleasing God's messengers, their not-so-humble guests by the look of things; their promised 'Noon' arrival had been missed by hours. It was the Evening. The sun had crept away, the farmers and villagers had wasted an entire working day for their arrival, and the day was cold now with how late it was. If it weren't for Father Hojo's never-ending flow of respect and praise they would have been considered rude.
Squall still did. But silently.
The Hunter had been in the trees when their guests finally decided to roll in on their four-horse carriage, but he was sure that it had been an arrival welcomed by a disorganised and frantic village, identical to the state it had been in earlier.
Lingering wouldn't put off today, so Squall and Cloud kissed goodbye, many times, and parted ways with soft promises to keep safe and well, promises that Squall knew he couldn't keep. Cloud knew it too, and surrendered his bracelet for Squall to cling too whenever he got overwhelmed.
Squall knew he'd need it for the Church … the small, stone space packed tight with the entire village …
He swallowed, something climbing up his throat and making him choke on his own breath!
Edea looked about at the work done, then at the people when Squall pointed out their fatigue, her smiling faded like the setting sun, "Yes … It looks good, but everyone is so stressed and in a rush …" the villagers around them were tired and impatient, Squall noted that a few of them hadn't even realised that he was here, even with his fidgeting and occasional wheezing breaths.
"Let's hope it was worth it. Maybe it's a caravan or something?" Traders didn't come here often, but it was a possibility. Though not one that deserved this degree of frantic preparation. Father Hojo wouldn't have gotten so worked up for merchants, surely?
Even Matron looked pessimistic. She squeezed Squall's arm and turned the conversation to him, "That was a lot of firewood you got, I'm impressed you could move it so quickly on your own." Her eyes twinkled, knowing who was there lending him a hand up to the borderline of the trees. Squall blushed and instantly confirmed her suspicions, it made her laugh in delight. Her laughter was as warm as Squall's cheeks.
Edea patted the arm she held, "I thought those bites looked fresh," she whispered to him, adjusting the scarf to better hide his nibbled throat.
Damnit Cloud … Squall grumbled, blushing even more as his Mother figure teased him. "You're as bad as your children," he protested, pulling the scarf tighter himself only to loosen it moments later as his anxiety made it harder to breathe.
Matron scoffed and continued to jest; "I should hope so, I raised them." They slowed even more as the doors loomed.
Edea dug in her heels suddenly and stopped them on the road, she smiled at those who walked by and when they were alone she wondered in a hushed voice: "Do they know about Cloud? Your brothers and sisters?"
Squall paled, "No!" He pulled away and looked tense, "Th-they can't know. I don't …"
Edea, alarmed at first, put a soothing hand on his chest to calm his frantic heart. "Squall, my son, be still. I was merely asking." Her hands, worn with work and tough, thin at the wrists, took Squall's hands in hers. With a Motherly smile, she assured him that his secret was safe. "I simply wanted to know what was common knowledge in our family, so I knew what I have to guard as secret, do not fret, Squall. I will not betray your trust."
"Oh …" Squall ducked his head, feeling foolish for overreacting.
The tense atmosphere, sneaking around, and Angeal's challenge combined had him under a lot of pressure. He apologised but his Mother figure waved them aside, saying instead that she should have picked a better time to ask.
Matron chuckled and looped her arm back with his, "Even so, you're as tense as the village, Squall," she rubbed his shoulder warmly, "So I'm the only one who knows?" she checked in a whisper.
Squall hesitated, then nodded. "Um, Quistis might have guessed about my ma- my lover's, um, sex. But … I've not told her anything." He sighed, covering her hand, "I don't want to hide things from you, I never have before, but … Cloud's family. They … they are not Catholics, or anything similar. They often fear what would happen if Catholic hunters found out they lived nearby, and then decided to forcibly convert them with guns and hunts."
Edea looked worried, "That's a pessimistic view …" however one look at the Church with its aggressive Father hosting the word of God, her face morphed into acceptance and understanding under Squall's eyes. "Or perhaps a sensible one."
Squall squeezed her hand, murmuring a lesser fear, "And … if the village found out about me and him, through gossip, through hearsay or … or f-finding us together-"
Edea's grip on his arm turned painfully tight. Her lips were pale as she pressed them together, "They'll have to go through me before they ever laid a hand on you," she hissed, clutching at him as if someone would snatch Squall up here and now. She gave him a comforting look, "Live with your secrets then, Squall. So long as you are happy, I'll protect you. I will not breathe a word."
Squall smiled. "I know Mother."
"Edea."
Squall and the called woman looked up to see Genesis walking up to them from the Church, his strides long and his face reserved. He was as groomed as the rest of the village, kitted in his best clothes and polished shoes, even his hair had been thoroughly tamed.
Edea turned to him, subtly stepping in front of Squall like a human barrier to greet the village leader, but it was unlikely to hide him from whatever their leader wanted; Genesis had requested that Squall be here, by Name!
The Mother tried regardless, a sincere smile on her face, "Genesis, how pleasant to see you tonight. Such good work you've done for our village, the fences and houses haven't looked as neat since I was a small girl," her hand hovered at waist height to demonstrate her age, and the Hunter gave her somewhat of a fond nod. It was hard not to be fond of Edea.
"Let's pray that the effort is worth something," he gave her a shallow bow and shifted his sharp eyes to Squall.
Squall was prepared for any number of the usual reactions, but not the one he received. Genesis's face … was oddly relieved. He still maintained a cold, frosty exterior, riddled through and through with the mistrust. But the emotion was undeniable.
Curiosity bubbled to Squall's lips but Genesis moved on; he indicated his head with a short nod, acknowledging Squall, then held an arm out to Edea. "I'll escort you two in. The meeting will begin shortly, as soon as Father Hojo has finished buttering up the guests." His tone was bitter.
Edea gave Squall an anxious look, Genesis hadn't let room for argument … but 'two'? You two?
Squall returned her worry and linked his hand through hers. Edea forced a pleasant smile and her hand eventually fluttered up to rest as light as a shadow around Genesis's elbow, betraying her nerves; "My, how gentlemanly of you …"
Genesis's face of focus said otherwise; ulterior motives at play.
The Mother and Son didn't have another opportunity to devise a plan or speak with Genesis here. Edea didn't even dare ask Squall if he was okay, or where Genesis would be taking them. Squall too, found his throat robbed of words.
The shadow of the Church fell over them and it felt like a second nightfall. The stone was colder than outside, the sea of candles doing little to bring either comfort or warmth, the doors began to swing shut behind them with Genesis's orders and their closure resonated with the same sealing bang as that of prison doors. At least in Squall's eyes.
Squall was shaking, and his chest began to tighten warningly when their authority led them directly to the front of the crowd. The people made way for them, the majority still caught up in their own discussions and only one or two looking at their little, strange, trio with bewilderment.
Squall's hand dived into his pocket and gripped Cloud's bracelet, he focused on the stones, the one that was just a little too sharp, the other that was rounded for … for health- Ah!- Edea's hand was- the candl- I can't move! I'm trapped! I can't- I … Just breathe … just-
Genesis stopped and positioned Edea near the wall at the front of the crowd, he put his hands on her shoulders lightly, indicating that this was where she was to stay. His sharp eyes sternly held hers to eliminate any protests, commanding her through the silence. She bit her lip and her hand tightened on Squall's. But she stayed put, rooted to the spot, scared for Squall and petrified at how out of control she was to protect him in the face of the public, and their leader.
The Lead Hunter then turned to Squall, but subtly. He faced the altar like the rest of those curiously waiting and without warning his hand firmly gripped Squall's upper arm and Squall jumped, a flinch so abrupt it caused a few stares.
Squall's heart froze in his chest! His eyes stopped seeing, so blinded with fright.
"Do not draw attention to yourself, boy. Am I clear?" Genesis hissed for Squall's ears only.
The terrified teen nodded jerkily. His breathing was edging on hyperventilating with how tense he had become, his gasps not auditable in the murmur of the people but Genesis could hear him. His lips pressed together, one curling in frustration.
The man sighed and let him go. Not once looking at Squall, he muttered; "… Whatever you do, do not look down when they come out here."
"Huh?"
Genesis didn't answer. He marched forwards with such clear direction that everyone nearby stopped speaking to watch him. He knocked at the side door where Father Hojo's personal chambers lay, his office and his bedroom. The knocks silenced a few more people. "Father Hojo, we're all here. Please start this meeting while we're young," Genesis said as he opened the door a crack and promptly shut it again.
The door sounded like a slam in the now silent Church.
Squall was holding his breath. Don't look down? Why, who is here? Irrationally, he wondered if someone knew about Cloud- But how? They'd been so careful. He glanced around out of the corner of his eye; wives, farmers, shepherds and children were here as well as Hunters. He tried to rationalise his bubbling fear away, as if it had been about the secrets of the wolves then only Hunters would be here, right? Right?
He gripped the bracelet in his pocket harder, Edea's hands both clutched at his and she silently encouraged him to breathe, stroking her thumb back and forth over his racing pulse. Squall breathed through his nose as controlled as he could; Cloud, I need you!
The door opened with a swoosh. Father Hojo came through, a beaming smile on his face. The happiest he had looked all day. His plain clothes and wooden cross over his chest often had him blending in, but the merry attitude of the normally stern Father had him standing out like a sore thumb in the sea of fatigued faces.
The stout Father stood at the foot of the altar and held a hand out to welcome someone, "I introduce to you, my children, our esteemed guests who have travelled far to reach us; the Vatican Agents."
Everyone turned to stare at the four figures entering the room, the first having to stoop to get through the little door. He stood tall and had his arms resting, clasped over each other and in just three strides stood before the entire room. He was tall, towering over the other men, hair as silvery as an old man's. But he was not old. He looked fit, in his prime, powerful. His attitude was one of command and control.
Squall noticed, however, that he looked entirely bored, not even attempting a polite disinterest; his green eyes sagged half closed, thin lips pressed together, clasped hands loose and relaxed as he radiated authority. He stood there alone for just a moment, then his three companions followed in a strange formation.
The three companions were not as tall as he was, but all held similar colouring; White hair, green eyes, weathered skin. Two were unusually thin, like willow branches especially with their hair down, and the last looked so muscly Squall wouldn't be surprised to see muscles bulging from his bones.
Squall felt nothing but fear at the sight of them, their black robes, their expensive and decorative rosaries. Their leather gloves, trousers, boots and cloaks reeked of money and quality. These were Religious men, men of position. Why would they come here? Why would Father Hojo want them here?
They can't know, they can't know, they just got here, they can't-!
His hand gripped Edea's and Cloud's bracelet hard enough to hurt them both. Edea gave a soft gasp but a moment later she clung back just as tightly, trying her damnedest to hide his shaking. Squall's other hand faintly stung.
Father Hojo stepped, many strides, forwards to introduce them. His bundle of energy never left his mouth: A lazily raised hand by the giant of a Leader had the aggressive, authoritative Father still and silent. His jaw snapped shut on all the glorious words he wanted to say, and his hands uselessly linked in prayer before his chest to still his flustered twitches. No one had ever seen him shut down like that before; curious murmurs started back up again, dying as fast as the Father's attempt to take control once the four visitors peered into the crowd as intense as staring down a loaded gun.
Wordlessly, the visiting four surveyed the room, from the People to the Decorations.
Squall remembered what Genesis said; Don't look down. He fought against every instinct to duck his head once their collective eyes, as if they were one creature with four heads, landed upon him and his Mother. Those four pairs of green eyes stared right through him, Squall panicked, wondering if they could see his thoughts with their unnatural eyes; read his mind and bring every last secret out of him.
He couldn't breathe …
Their stares lasted a lifetime.
When they finally looked away, having taken no longer on Squall than on any other face in the room, Squall breathed again. His aching lungs stuttering with the sudden intake of air. He swallowed the urge to cough, a line of sweat broke over the back of his neck, the hand in his pocket felt wet- ah, he was bleeding …
The men straightened up at some unknown signal; "I am Sephiroth, Agent of the Vatican and Hunter of the enemies of God." The leader spoke with a voice like a cat's purr, Squall imagined he could feel it better than he heard it. The tones refused to echo in this stony place, it sent shivers throughout the room. "These are my Brothers: Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo."
Each indicated their head at their names. The brutish one was Yazoo.
Sephiroth, the leader, took a solitary and aloof glance about the room. The disinterest ever present. "Our mission is to Hunt out the Agents of the Devil to protect God's people. Good, honest Children of God, devout in every way."
One side of his mouth turned up, amused. "Brothers." The three looked at him, "I believe we have no work here in this miserable hovel." He snapped his fingers and, through the uproar of insulted voices, he strode through the crowds like Moses parting the red sea all the way to the heavy doors and opened them himself with one hand. It took the village a person each to move them normally.
His 'Brothers' followed him and the doors banged shut behind them, Father Hojo hot on their tails, begging over the din of angry, stunned village voices and vanishing outside; "Please reconsider, you haven't even looked-"
Edea and Squall took a step back to the wall, elbows of the crowd nudging them out of their ranks as they roiled like an angry tide. Squall pressed his back to it and began to gasp without restraint, his world feeling dark at the edges.
Edea stood in front of Squall and tried prying her hand loose from his; "Let me go, Squall, you're holding too tight." she encouraged.
Squall dropped her hand at once, eyes wide and alarmed, "I-I-I-"
"Shh. Breathe with me. Slow," she soothed, brushing his hair from his eyes, and rubbing up and down his arm in a slow circle Squall encouraged his lungs to follow the gentle rise and fall of her hand. In … and out … in … and out. He had his eyes closed to forget the building he was in, and he was halfway there when he heard Edea telling him; "It's alright. You did it, it's over."
"Edea."
Genesis appeared beside them, Squall opened his eyes in surprise. Genesis stood looking angry as normal, but he appeared a lot more relaxed now. He put a hand on Edea's shoulder, gentle as if she was made out of glass; "May I escort you two out?"
The woman paused a moment to judge him, Motherly eyes sharp with protectiveness. But she appeared to find no reason to reject him Edea agreed. Her hand touched Genesis's in a moment of silent gratitude.
Genesis took a look at Squall, a quick glance up and down, then closed his eyes and pulled away, conflicted as always when it came to Edea's youngest child.
Genesis raised a hand to the crowd and caught their attention one at a time, finally bidding them all goodnight; "Listen everyone. As ungrateful as they were I know you all put in your all today, following the good Father's word of God and your own pride as a community. That's something to be proud of, our home hasn't looked as homely in over a decade," the village murmured, recalling the storms that uplifted fences and buried houses in snow. "You've done me proud. I wouldn't ask anything better form you, as you all already gave your best. Now go home and have a well-deserved night in bed, tomorrow we've got supplies to gather for the Winter. No more putting it off, we've never been held back before and we won't be now. Irvine, open the doors back there, I'm done for today, and I expect all of you to be out here full force tomorrow."
The atmosphere had been calmed slightly, a few faces warmer and at peace with what happened though the rest retained degrees of irritation and insult as would be expected of such a wasted effort. But the people were filing out of the Church to the open air and Squall could barely restrain himself from bolting to freedom.
Edea and Genesis kept him in check. Barely. His enthusiasm to be out of there wasn't too subtle.
Squall let his head fall back and he breathed, deep and long for the first time this afternoon; It's over, I've done it, I'm out … I'm going to be fine.
His Mother fondly squeezed his arm.
Once outside Edea turned to Genesis, looking him up and down with her face as pale as when he had first appeared to … guard them? Watch them? Pressure them? Either way, her Motherly instincts were suspicious: "Thank you for being our escort tonight, Genesis. I would not have had such a good view of the proceedings if I had stood at the back," she probed, sneaky as she could.
Too clever for the stressed and tired Genesis who let out another sigh of relief; "I imagine not Edea. But seeing your face and …" he gave Squall a sharp glance, "Well. Being recognised is better than hiding."
Squall tilted his head, Genesis wanted them to know my face? Why?
They passed the normal crowds of people, heading for the road to Edea's home. Squall wished he was elsewhere. Genesis … he couldn't speak freely with him here, and Squall was desperate to head out and have some peace and quiet for a change. But he couldn't just vanish without cause.
"Who were they?" Squall rasped, his chest still tight.
Genesis jumped at his voice, clearly not expecting him to talk. They hadn't exchanged civil words in weeks! The Lead Hunter pressed his lips together then finally shrugged his shoulders, "Some men our good Father thought might help us against the wolves."
It was about the wolves! Squall swallowed and tried to gulp down his panic too. "W-what kind of help?"
"Nothing useful, clearly," Genesis spat, but not at Squall, his neck craned all the way around to face the vague location where Father Hojo had disappeared to.
Clearly, Genesis was in a bad mood. But knowing that Cloud and his family could be at risk of outsider's attacks now was something Squall had to gather information about. He pressed his luck; "Are they offering to bless the woods or something?"
Genesis scoffed, "Bastards won't be stepping a foot in there, too proper." He rubbed his forehead, looking longsuffering and stressed, "Just … just don't worry about it. They'll leave. And be quiet." Squall's jaw snapped shut. "My head is killing me."
Edea looked up, biting her lip thoughtfully, "I have some poppy seeds, I'll wager that a mouthful of those will cure your headache," she offered.
"I appreciate it Edea." He sighed.
Squall said no more and the three walked up to the treeline, partly because Squall was worried about pissing the man off even more with his temper as frayed as this. Partly, too, because he'd gotten what he needed, and finally because he was still focusing on breathing correctly.
Genesis walked Edea all the way to her house, which mean Squall was with them too. The walk up the corridor of trees to Edea's house was silent, the crunch of leaves the only noise now almost all of them were on the floor. Woodland creatures, birds Squall suspected, were making the leaves rustle along the ground; he gave the woodland brambles a fond look, wondering what they were doing so late; scavenging for food?
The noise wasn't Cloud, human or wolf Cloud was utterly silent when he moved across the ground. Squall never knew he was there until he revealed himself. Nevertheless, the comfort of the woods had utterly relaxed him now. He could breathe, he wasn't shaking, he pulled his hand out of his pocket and winced at how bloody his palm was; he'd gripped his bracelet so tight that the sharp stones had punctured his palm.
Genesis saw and raised an eyebrow, "You're injured?"
"Squall!" Edea worried, holding his hand in both of hers, "What happened?"
Squall ducked his head, "I think I scratched myself," he glanced up at Genesis who wasn't convinced, "I had a stone in my pocket."
"Silly boy," Squall's Mother cooed, "I'll patch you up as soon as Genesis gets his remedy."
"You should treat his palm, Edea. A man with injured hands cannot labour for winter," their leader insisted, holding open Edea's door as they moved inside. She lit a few candles to see and Genesis made himself useful by throwing extra logs on her fire, stoking a dwindling flame.
"Here, Squall, let me see," Edea ordered, holding up a pail of water in which to wash the wound. They both saw that it wasn't bad, more bruised than cut and shallow. She gave him a comforting look, realising how hard he had been trying to hide his terror.
Genesis hovered in the background, watching intensely. Squall took the sponge and nodded at Genesis. Edea understood, reaching for the things that their leader needed so that he had no more reason to be here. With practiced movements and something like joy in her features as she practised her craft, she bundled up a bunch of seeds into a pouch and handed them over, "Here Genesis, take these before you go to bed, and thank you very much for walking me home. That was kind of you."
Genesis accepted the seeds with a soft 'thank you' and leaned on the doorframe.
There was a significant pause where either Genesis was supposed to leave or Edea supposed to turn back to Squall; but they didn't move. No one moved until the air had grown awkward enough that even Squall, not part of the silent battle of wills, had frozen up with anxiety to see who would blink first.
Several moments later, Edea sighed and lowered her head several degrees, enough for her normally pleasant face to display something deeply territorial and warning: She crossed her arms, and spoke coldly; "What do you want, Rhapsodos?"
Everyone heard what she meant through her verbal words: Leave, and do not come near my boy.
She called him out on his behaviour, all pleasantries were gone now.
Squall swallowed against a lump in his throat, his hand shook as it pressed a cloth to the wound. He had never seen Edea like this, hackles raised and teeth bared. She looked ready to start a fight, sink in her teeth and send Genesis out of her territory at the sight of a threatening gesture. And Genesis, though he remained passive, wasn't respecting her as he always had done in the past.
Their staring contest was intense enough to leave sparks.
Then, finally, Genesis broke eye contact with her to meet Squall's. He nodded at the door, "Leonhart, a word."
He stepped outside as Edea sucked in a sharp breath, likely to escalate their standoff further, but Squall stopped her.
Though shaking at the thought of being alone with him, Squall summoned the courage to put a hand on her arm and assured her that he would be fine. "I'll make it quick, Matron, whatever he wants."
"Squall, don't you dare!" Edea gasped, her voice hushed as she grabbed Squall's arm to keep him still. Her eyes shot Genesis's retreating back a dirty look, furious at how confident he was walking away. If she had her way he'd be standing wherever he chose to stop all night.
The young hunter, stressed, urged his Matron to let him go, "Edea-"
"Don't go Squall, he wants you alone- what if he hurts you, what if he- he knows?" she whispered the end.
Squall was thinking the same, internally panicking at the thought of Genesis suspecting his involvement with wolves- or worse, knowing about Cloud! If he knows, or suspects then it's over, I can't complete the challenge, Cloud and his pack will be in danger.
Paling at the thought of Cloud at gunpoint he knew what he had to do: "Th-then I have to try and convince him otherwise, we're just acting suspicious the more we hide. Right?" Edea looked horrified! He got his arm free, "If something happens I'll run into the trees and I won't look back," he promised, the both of them knowing that it was the safest place for him- Genesis wouldn't dare follow him weaponless and at night, and Squall was sure that he'd run into one of the wolves, maybe even Cloud, soon enough to be safe.
Edea still bit her lip, hands wringing together in distress. "… ok."
Squall couldn't say a thing to comfort her, he was scared too. However, as he braced himself and turned away, he spied her reaching for a knife …