"Have you ever wondered how the infamous upperclassmen trained themselves?"
"..Well, have you?"
As the jolly raven-haired boy found his blond underclassman unsure of how to respond to his friend's question, he decided to raise his hand way up high. If there was anything in ShinRa Academy, there was one student who seemed to find loopholes out of loopholes, gathered information about every peer and staff member no student ever dared to search for.
One second year student who was right by Zack's side, and yet had knowledge from sources of the unknown. One minute he's with Zack playing videogames, the next minute he has a very interesting story to share with the younger, bargaining tools against their instructors to give them favours, hell, even theories on people and books that had Genesis flinching, Angeal trying to pry, and Sephiroth giving a grin.
Getting Sephiroth to smirk with amusement was a feat no youth was able to accomplish, and yet, this one friend who always had a maroon hoodie over his head and a mechanical visor for "protecting his eyes" (Zack believed it was a fashion statement in all honesty, for his vision is a good 20/20) did it with one conversation. This student was someone unbelievably shrewd, appearing as one of the silly ones in the classroom until he had to answer a question that threw off every student.
This lad was named "Kunsel". At this moment, Zack had no care in his heart if that wasn't even his real name. Kunsel was one of the most impressive and fun-going friend he ever had, going on the same wavelength as his and was also one who accomplished the impossible. Even his little friend, Cloud, would be gawking at his slightly older friend in nothing but awe, gaining assistance from him with homework when it piled pretty bad.
Kunsel was now going to share to the duo something he realized about Cloud's current lover-to-be and his friends. Zack was not told the outcome of their "date", but with the way Cloud had adorable pink cheeks and eyes that appeared as though he was offered a seat in Heaven informed him that Genesis was at least kind to him during that time pass. Heck, he almost asked Genesis during lunch, for some unknown reason, stopped last minute.
Maybe it was the subtle way the fashionable upperclassman smiled at Cloud, resting his chin on his palm as he snuck a chip into the younger boy's mouth.
Scratch that, it was not subtle at all! They didn't know the definition even if it slapped them in the face. It was subtle only if people were not sitting in the same room or space as he. Angeal and Sephiroth didn't bother hiding how they took note of it: with Angeal smiling small at the two, and Sephiroth raising a brow before politely asking Genesis if he was going to offer everyone a chip or play favourites.
Zack sent a prayer to the goddess.
It resulted with Sephiroth being slapped with chips, and Angeal dabbing a napkin to get the bits of grease off his face. Sephiroth merely shook his head, allowing Angeal to clean him and Zack guffawed. One of those best friend privileges was having a play in this moment, for Sephiroth would not, for the love of Gaia, allow anyone to stain his face with processed oils and disgusting materials.
Thankfully the chips were not dipped in gravy, nor were they as greased up as some would eat it. It'd be too funny to watch his upperclassmen trio stuffing their faces with chips of that caliber.
But that was not the point at this moment, what was to be put in emphasis was what Kunsel apparently caught word of. Cloud still seemed a bit disinterested to know, or just had a good pokerface as their silver-haired upperclassman had. When he earned expectant glances, he shrugged his shoulders.
"It's not any different than our regime, no?"
"That's what they want you to think." Kunsel pointed an enthusiastic finger at the blond, holding back a snicker. "I found their second sparring session was nothing like the traditional butting swords, and get this.. they still do it!"
This caught the youngest boy's attention. Zack could read him as easy as a multi-pictured book. That was the expression of a fella who wasn't sure how his admirable upperclassman trained. Moreover, what they did for leisure. The boy was so hung up on the fact that they had begun their enlistment phase just a couple of days ago, unable to think of anything more than the fear that he would never see them smile again.
"Okay, I'll pry. What do they do?" Cloud heaved a sigh as he resigned, the worst in mind.
Kunsel smiled at them.
-x-
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
The raven-haired teen started, brandishing a blade much thinner and shorter than the Buster Sword hanging on his back. His friend, the coy auburn teen, gave a smile that never seemed to leave his face.
"When did I ever have a bad idea, Ang?"
To his inquiry, the silver teen who ran a cloth around his odachi offered a little smirk. Once again, they were in the gymnasium, fooling around after the younger students had their classes and returned to their dormitories. The three had made this large room their domain, securing it under the pretense that they were students who needed special training due to their rapid growth.
They flung that excuse wherever they could—more like, Rhapsodos slung that excuse everywhere he went where the school authorities raised a brow and got the "OK" somehow.
"Do you want a vague answer or a detailed one?" Sephiroth countered, earning a pursed lip frown from the oldest of the trio.
"You just don't appreciate my valiant effort."
"Oh, our humblest apologies, one blessed by the goddess.." the youngest of the three rolled his eyes, unable to keep the language of sarcasm at bay knowing it riled up the other to a humorous extent.
"You bet I'm blessed, Sephiroth! I saved your sorry behind a countless amount of times." Huffing, he ran up to the bleachers, placing a brown straw basket he nestled in his arms, larger than their heads put together. Once the object was placed, he lifted the white sheet that covered the top to reveal apples that were.. purple.
Poisoned apples?
Never had Sephiroth seen an apple that was not on the tones of red, green and yellow. Purple was something else. He glanced quizzically at Hewley who heaved a sigh of appreciation, taking one of the apples from the basket and eating it as if it was one of the best treats a human could be given.
He didn't want to ask Rhapsodos what atrocity these fruits were. Surely, they were not going to eat each and every one of them, were they?
"Genesis, why so many of them?" Hewley held one with the care of a prized possession as Rhapsodos shook his head, smiling wide.
"Well, I thought of a game we could play. Y'know, crossing blades could be so boring sometimes.. we could spruce things up."
The silver teen didn't want to ask a stupid question, so he kept his mouth shut, wondering if he was supposed to lift an apple as well, finding the auburn boy's eyes lingering upon him with an intensity he couldn't quite catch. Finding those cerulean eyes bearing too deep, he reached for one with the hesitation of a church mouse.
"What kind of game?" thank all good forces in the Planet that Hewley asked in his place. He had the feeling the slightly older boy knew what he was up to but wanted to have the road cleared for them all.
"I was thinking that we…" when the boy took an apple for himself, he didn't bother eating it, "balance these on our heads and try to shoot our swords at it. Whoever hits the apple, wins."
Sephiroth raised a brow at the insinuation of a rather dangerous game to play, and Hewley choked on the fruit, glaring at Rhapsodos as if he grew a second head.
"Sometimes, I think you really have a deathwish, Gen." he croaked, coughing a couple of times to rid of the evil fruit trying to get stuck in his throat.
"And what of it? It would be fun to see how well we play darts." Sometimes, the silver teen was amazed by how casually the auburn teen treated life. In moments where the lad should be scared out of his wits, where he should be making decisions that did not jeopardize his life, he thought the same way as he did.
Perhaps, it was the lack of experience in a true life or death situation that kept him so avid of risking it.
"With our actual swords? That is not playing darts!"
"Yeah, but I want to see how well our dearest Sephiroth does. Will he cut us down like vermin or would he treat this beautiful fruit like it's the spawn the devil." Rhapsodos tossed the apple into the air as he drawled on, pale blue eyes narrowing into his green. "What do you say, young ShinRa Academy Prodigy?"
"If you want to die, I'll play your executioner." He only responded, biting back the scowl at the insulting title once again. It could be a little bothersome that the oldest male had a hard time understanding the burdensome role he was associated to. How much in rejoice he would be in to give up that stupid title to anyone else.
Someone who could really take the trials that came with it.
"Oooh, scary. I like that." At that, Sephiroth clicked his tongue. He truly didn't mind indulging the boy. Oh no, he didn't.. it was just he did have to learn his place, a little lesson in respect would not kill him.
Well, maybe it will, that's why he avoids it.
"I thought we dropped that whole 'Prodigy' thing, Gen. Sephiroth really hates it."
Gaia bless Hewley.
"'Geal, he knows I like to jest." Rhapsodos stressed, heaving a long sigh and closing his eyes for a moment. When Sephiroth's eyes met Hewley's, he shook his head.
"He doesn't."
That had the oldest boy blink, eyes wide when they had their turn of meeting with Sephiroth's. The silver teen glared back, scowl evident.
Rhapsodos swore.
"I'll watch it."
With how low he muttered, it was as much remorse as he could get from the short lad. Hewley smiled at them, finishing up the fruit in his hand, and Sephiroth placed the apple on his head, finding it drop when it hadn't met the center. When it dropped to the ground, he glanced at it as if it would burn into ash, release a demon and possess him.
Rhapsodos eyed it with an unreadable expression before growing a smile. "I'll go first, come on. Who wants to shoot the apple?"
"Not me." Hewley immediately interjected, unable to hold back a shiver. "I don't want to die nor kill a friend today."
"Well, looks like you're up, Seph." Rhapsodos balanced the apple onto his head with the ease of someone who has attempted long before. "Take it as an apology from me."
Sephiroth wasn't uncertain he'd be able to make a perfect mark at the apple. Not to brag about it, but this was something he was very attuned to. This was only new to his two friends, for him, it was part of his practice. His lifestyle, if you must.
He weighed the odds. There were two advantages he held, first being the apple's tall height in comparison to the apples he was familiar with, and second, Rhapsodos' shorter height. It was easier to hit targets that were lower rather than higher, for the projectile's trajectory has to reach an angle above comfort level, sometimes reaching a little too high.
With a slightly lower target, it was a gentler toss for gravity did most the work. Think of the strange sport of baseball, it was easier to land a casual fastball. It was a straight toss that would hit the target that are in its line of vision, missing only if the target was a little too high, or far lower than the thrower's expectations.
He was not aiming for Rhapsodos' head, so it should be fine if he angled his shot a little higher. Should be fine..
Lifting Masamune like an archer would his bow and arrow, he began to measure the proper angle to throw. The auburn teen wasn't even paying attention to him, pulling out his cherished book from his blazer—how did he fit it there, he had no idea, and began to read.
"The arrow has left the bow of the goddess."
Flicking a glance at Hewley, he found the teen was observing the two, analyzing the possibility of a perfect mark due to Sephiroth's fine angling. He was contemplative, perhaps persuading himself that this was not a pretty bad game to play if they ever needed to throw their weapon I the battlefield to catch an opponent out of reach.
Sephiroth smiled small at him before closing an eye, lessening his distractions as he bent slightly, stretched his arm back as far as it could go with the long blade before sharply making a toss. The wind blew with the launch of his blade, purposely standing back far away due to how long his sword was and having a small eager thought of challenging himself once more.
And well, having Rhapsodos flinch when the sword pierced through the apple dead-on was worth it. Did he think that it was going to land near his feet? Quite literally, he would've been blown away if he wasn't almost plastered to the wall.
"I really felt the wind on that one." Glancing up at the shining metal just a hair's length above, he breathlessly smiled. For once, he scared the lad. That was an accomplishment. It wasn't as though he never feared, it just happened he wasn't too afraid of getting injured or being close to losing his own life as he was about Hewley or Sephiroth's.
He could recall each moment Sephiroth would have those churning headaches, how at once he would throw whatever he was holding to try and use a heal Materia on his head. That was concern and horror, but not when it came to his own well-being.
Here, he was thrown off by how close he could've had that blade lodged into his throat like the fruit choking his friend.
Instead of growing hesitant to continue, Rhapsodos had the excitement of a child who ate loads of sweets, smiling to Hewley deviously. "Angeal, your turn!"
"What? My turn to balance the apple or to throw the sword?" Hewley's wide eyes emphasized volumes of fear at the display of the Masamune through the apple than the older boy, and Sephiroth couldn't help but smile wryly. He didn't mean to cause him to be unable to associate apples without the thought of being shot like a dog, but it wasn't his idea.
Even though he would've been happy to come up with something like that. It was too amusing to pass up.
"What do you want to do? Stab Sephiroth or be stabbed?"
The poor guy definitely wished to do neither, that much, Sephiroth could tell. That was the reasonable reaction to a Russian roulette kind of game. What was this kind of game called?
"Angeal, you're tall.. if you hit Genesis or me, it could very well go over our heads or the apple." He finally commented, hoping it was a little reassurance, "at least, if you aim straight.."
"I thought I'd be having an easier time going over your head." Rhapsodos peeled himself off the wall as Sephiroth pulled Masamune out, drawing it to a safe distance, taking the two halves of the apple with confused eyes. Should he eat this? Rhapsodos and Hewley didn't seem to have issues with it…
Azure eyes were hard on him once more, almost telling him to 'please, try it'. Blinking a couple of times, he headed over to the basket and placed the two halves beside it.
Later, he would try it.
He missed the small whimper from the oldest boy who wanted him to try it, at the very least.
"I think you two are better off trying." Hewley's arms curled over his biceps in a self-comforting gesture, "I don't feel comfortable this time."
Rhapsodos gave him a sullen smile, taking another apple and placing it onto Hewley's head.
"Then at least, let me try hitting you."
The change in the gymnasium's atmosphere was impossible to go unnoticed. It was so darned obvious; any person could feel it as if it was written for them to see. It wasn't tension due to a dangerous game, it was the sulk of someone who couldn't attain what they wanted. Disappointment flown through the air, the possibility to avoid breathing nigh.
Even so, Hewley assumed his position, smacking his eyes shut as he prepared for the worst. Rhapsodos really looked ready to run Rapier through him, pointing the crimson blade at him with a growing smirk, free hand brushing his bangs back. A force of habit, it seemed.
With a shrug of his shoulders, Sephiroth stepped forward to be beside his friend. "If you raise the tip to a 45-degree angle, you'd have lesser of a chance of hitting his forehead."
Rhapsodos raised an eyebrow, complying nonetheless. At least he knew it was no safe game, if there was advice to be taken, he wouldn't leave it hanging. Sephiroth was given an inquiring stare when he repositioned his blade, and the silver teen couldn't help but stifle a giggle. It was kind of cute how childishly he appeared, all wide eyes and uncertain, seeking approval from someone younger due to his familiarity of the sport.
To keep from teasing him, he nodded. Refocusing on the tallest friend, Rhapsodos smiled, flinging Rapier as he would a javelin. It was a little off in its trajectory, scratching the top of the apple and sticking to the wall as if the apple was lava and wanted to avoid incineration.
Rhapsodos clicked his tongue as Hewley cracked an eye open.
"Is it done?"
"Yeah, missed it." He sulked once again, this time Sephiroth found himself frowning as well. It was on his advice that he missed his mark. He thought of apologizing, but the dismissive raise of the boy's head stopped him. "Oh well, chicken off and try, Angeal Hewley. We're setting an example for the youngsters of the future."
"Yeah, but.. Sephiroth would be balancing the apple." He murmured, giving a wary glance at the silver teen before meeting Rhapsodos' eyes who rolled his.
"So? Let him in on the fun," turning to face Sephiroth, he offered an apple from the basket, "what do you say? You up for an apple on your head?"
Sephiroth gazed to and fro between his friends before offering a nonchalant shrug. So, be it, no? Taking the apple from the boy appeared to appease him just a little, his smile growing on a corner before shifting his attention to Hewley with a couple of hand gestures to say, 'he's all yours'.
Hewley heaved a sigh, giving in to the eventual demise called this ridiculous game that his insane friends had taken a liking to. He glared indignantly at Rhapsodos who didn't bother holding back a yawn, content with sitting at the little bench by the bleachers with his book.
"Try it, Angeal. It could be fun." Sephiroth astonished himself as much as he did Hewley when he gave a little encouragement. "You won't hurt me nor Genesis, and the same for us."
"Yeah, but it's dangerous.."
"Trust me, it won't be dangerous knowing you can't possibly harm us." Sephiroth smiled another time, patting Hewley's shoulder before frowning as the apple on his head shifted and hit the ground. He should've been in position before Rhapsodos decided to place the apple on his head. He wasn't quite sure how to keep it on the way his two friends seemed a bit accustomed to doing. He never balanced books on his head, how would he do for little fruit?
Hewley carefully adjusted the fruit back to where it was supposed to be, and the silver teen made a note to not move a muscle for the time being. At least, any head movement.
"Okay, only because you say so." Hewley smiled back as he turned on his heel, inching away from the now target. From the distance, he heard Rhapsodos snort.
"Yeah sure, trust Sephy for anything. When good ol' Genny tells you, it's 'take it with a grain of salt'."
"You pour salt on my wounds, Genesis. Sephiroth doesn't." Hewley came back, sneering a little as he challenged his friend who huffed.
"I don't pour salt, I offer reality, darling. Now shoot or I'll glue feathers onto you."
At that, Sephiroth made a careful glance over to the side, rolling green irises to the companion on the bleachers, "and take pictures?"
Hewley and Rhapsodos almost lost their jaws in that minute.
"Even Sephiroth wants to see?" "Not you too.." were spoken at the same time, and Sephiroth blinked owlishly.
Hewley positioned himself, using the small blade that hadn't left his hand. Sephiroth frowned at the fact that he refused to use the Buster Sword he had with him. Why had he insisted on using that toy sword when he had that beautiful blade waiting?
His hesitation on playing this game was entirely unsubtle with the way he threw his blade the instant he came to a reasonable distance. It went over Sephiroth's head, completely missing the apple. It was going to take a while before the raven teen would take this seriously. This could be rather helpful to them in the future.. it must've been the fact that they were not dummies that had Hewley hide his true potential.
Rhapsodos boo-ed him.
"That was horrible, Angeal!"
"I'll try better next time.." Hewley insisted, and Sephiroth understood. To get the fact that they were human targets would be very difficult to play indifferent to. In the battlefield, he would be the one who gives soldiers their last rites rather than being the one who suffocated them or ended their heartbeats. "When this game is more.. honourable."
A warrior that could be risky to place in the warzone. His hesitation can cost the entire army if handled badly.
Outside the conflict, he would be viewed as the most human one there is. Rhapsodos and he could become monsters, demons if needed to be, but Hewley… Hewley would be the one who represents the people, the protective, hesitant due to honour and the need to give second chances, the empathic one.
One that was necessary to keep the soldiers' spirits up, not one on the frontlines. It would be a series of heartbreak, repeating over and over until he lost his mind. He could never close his heart for that would mean stripping himself of the Hewley name.
Despite all of this, he could make an incredible defensive unit. Sephiroth had been a sparring partner of his and Rhapsodos, and most of Hewley's instincts were to keep Rhapsodos away from harm, to be the one to take the brunt of the powerful blows due to his superior strength while letting the oldest release his onslaught of attacks. Hewley may have not killed, but boy.. was he going to protect his ally to the very end?
It was a beautiful display. Hewley behaved like a guardian angel, even in silly moments as these. Sephiroth could not emphasize the importance of this within their temporal friendship. He was the reason why they hadn't gone too far front or back.
"Come on guys, let's continue till there's no apples left!" The auburn boy quite so jumped up from his position, tossing apples at the two friends who, while smiling to one another in acknowledgment, had no trouble in catching the purple fruit, paying no heed to it until the third friend stepped in with a pout. That pout quickly shifted with a glance to each of his companion.
"I agree, let us make this a part of our training." The silver teen eyes shifted to his oldest friend to give him the little attention he hinted to need with walking up to them. He earnt a small smile from him.
"You two go on, I'm going to look for a straw dummy to balance my apples on." As the most reasonable one of the trio began to shift, heading to the cupboard with the supplies, both Sephiroth and Rhapsodos exchanged gazes before…
Rhapsodos began making chicken noises, and Sephiroth folded his arms behind him, pretending to be one. Hewley's eyes snapped up to them in a glare, clenching his teeth with a tight smile.
"On second thought… I think the medical staff here are quite competent to deal with the two of you when I'm done business."
The gymnasium was a natural disaster yet again..
As Kunsel finished up explaining to them the story he was told by a reliable source, Zack and Cloud were gaping at him. The boy couldn't help but throw in a couple of giggles as he was making hand motions to some of their actions—let's admit it, it was hilarious to know upperclassmen who are held to such high esteem behaving like five-year olds.
"You've got to be kidding," Cloud started, first to recover from his shock, "they definitely train like war veterans."
"My sources are quite credible if you ask me." Due to the visor, Cloud couldn't quite tell if Kunsel was glancing at him until he was smiled at. Zack was beaming in amazement.
"Wow, never thought I'd hear Angeal acting like a total goof." He mumbled.
"My sources tell me they still do this from time to time."
Zack and Cloud exchanged glances. Cloud was probably having a harder time accepting that his upperclassmen do this sort of hunky-dory training due to the fact that a) he just dated one, and is possibly still dating him, and b) he had a difficult time accepting Sephiroth being a comedian with his friends. The raven teen simply laughed, imagining Angeal balancing an apple on his head or shooting the Buster Sword at his friends—if he ever did.
That sword is so broad, it could cut into their heads if he wasn't careful. No wonder he used the smaller blade more often.
"So! You two wanna hear more?"
The two did not spare a second to think, shouting, "yes!"
Kunsel clasped both hands, grinning cutely. "Alright, here we go! This one time I found…"