Please see the end of this chapter for a reminder message about future chapter uploads! No changes yet so, if you read it already, please disregard this message for the time being.

Marken: You almost made me cry. I really, really can't wait to give you the rest of this story and I will do my very best to make it worth the wait! Still about 3-4 more chapters before the break so enjoy till then!

Beta Readers: Pixie, Kiza, and Discord.

I do not own FF7 or any of its characters. Talin, Unit 28, and some other side characters are mine.

Enjoy and please R&R.

Chapter 48

The roar of the whip striking its target echoed like thunder in Talin's mind. In an instant, the weight surrounding his shadow vanished, the shell and fog melted away, leaving only a sphere of constantly shifting shields.

The General didn't make a sound when the blow hit, hardly flinched other than the initial jolt, and then he was dead weight against Talin's back. The Cadet had been ready to catch him... or so he'd thought. He hadn't truly considered how heavy a SOLDIER was, let alone one that was this tall.

Preventing a fall to the floor at the expense of one scraped knee, the Cadet rapidly pulled Mako to bolster his strength and struggled back up to his feet. Then he was left with the predicament of what to do. Leaving the great General sprawled on the floor felt like a great way to get a small bit of revenge, but the gut-churning feeling that prevented him from picking up Masamune, rejected the idea of humiliating the sword's owner. His only other options then were to prop him in a corner and wait for him to wake or take him back to his apartment.

Unsure of how long the man would be out, he chose the second option, and, hooking the 1st's arms over his shoulders, he half carried, half dragged his mentor to the door. Talin's worry about being seen crossing the hall to the General's apartment was relieved when he poked his head out and saw no one coming or going on the floor. Taking his chance, the redhead moved quickly, pulling more Mako to support the tremendous effort, and gave a great sigh of relief when the door slid closed behind them.

Able to take his time now that he didn't have to be concerned about being seen, Talin wondered why he really cared. It didn't really matter to him if someone saw a Cadet dragging his Mentor back to his apartment, but it would matter to the proud SOLDIER. Working his way to the couch, the teen sighed again and knew he'd been cautious for the General's sake, not his own. Appearances were important to all the 1sts, he wasn't foolish enough to believe otherwise, but especially to this one.

Irritated that he'd come up with an even better reason not to publicly demean the man, Talin carefully crouched and leaned to roll his unconscious cargo onto the couch. With a sigh, he collapsed to the floor and let the last of the unused Mako drain away. Enhanced as he was, the difference between his abilities and someone injected with the SOLDIER program Mako was night and day.

Feeling the last tingling burn dissipating from his muscles, the Cadet sat up and looked at the figure on the couch for a long moment. He made himself vulnerable, and to a cadet no less. Even now, he's at my mercy... The thought stirred something in Talin's chest, something protective but also mischievous. Much to his own chagrin, his protective nature won out and he found himself pulling the 1st's feet up onto the low sofa into a more comfortable position. As he considered removing the heavy boots, Talin realized a more pressing issue.

The long silver hair, that was prized above all other fanboy merchandise, was trapped under the broad shoulders and back. Torn between wanting to just leave and the desire to return some of the kindness he'd been shown before, Talin suppressed a grumble and carefully leaned over his mentor. The way he'd carried the man on his back had meant it was somewhat impersonal to drag him around, now, facing him, seeing the unguarded and peaceful expression as he slept, the teen hesitated.

The surreal feeling of actually taking care of someone, one who normally only accepted such aid from his lovers, was all that kept the Cadet from standing back up and walking away. That and the odd knowing that, even if he'd been awake, the General might not have pushed him away for trying to help. Keeping that thought in mind, Talin looped his arms under his Mentor's, pulling him into a sitting position before trying to free the trapped hair.

Even the weight of just his upper half was substantial and the Cadet found himself forced to sit on the couch next to him to be able to keep them both upright. As soon as he touched the first section of silver hair, the redhead realized he'd never done so up to that point, and fought the urge to just play with the strands that he'd twined around his fingers. Firmly setting the idea aside for now, he carefully wrangled body and hair till both were free of each other.

All while he worked on that unique task, he was aware of the 1st's breathing, his heartbeat, the warmth that crept through the leather of his jacket, and the light cotton of Talin's shirt to his skin. The smell of thunderstorms... The dream came back to him again as he slowly lowered the SOLDIER back to the couch, using one hand to hold behind his head so as not to jar his neck.

Pull away. Sit your ass back up and leave. It was sound advice, but the younger fighter felt like gravity had changed and he couldn't get away, didn't want to... The last blinding instant of that dream crept back into his thoughts and his eyes fell to the lips he'd kissed in that moment and in the Void as well... Would they feel the same in real life? Before he could think about it, Talin was leaning closer, his eyes unable to leave the face he'd seen in both dreams and nightmares...

…

The soft slide of the General's apartment door closing behind him was like a release to the pressure that had settled on Talin's chest. For a moment, he just stood there, looking across the hall at the training room door that he'd locked behind him and mentally berating himself for his actions.

"Red?" The call had come from down the hallway and, looking up, he saw Zack bouncing towards him, sky-blue eyes shifting from him, to the door, and back. "Were you...?" Neither knew exactly how that question would end, and Talin jumped to explain.

"He was training me to use the link. Told me to hit him hard, so I did," There was no joy in the thought but it wasn't something to be happy about having to use.

"Shit, is he ok?" Zack's concern deepened Talin's own, but he knew the SOLDIER could, and had taken worse injuries than what he'd done.

"Ya, I think so," He lowered his voice even though there wasn't anyone but them in the hall, "It knocked him out. I figured he wouldn't want to be left on the gym floor, so I put him on the couch." The teen glanced behind him at the door and straining his hearing to listen for any sounds, knowing full well the apartment was soundproofed.

A swift yank of the hand that had slipped around his neck pulled Talin stumbling into the young Commander's arms. "Don't look so serious, Red. If he told you to do it, then he was prepared for the consequences." The eyes that met his were serious for only a few heartbeats before the sparkle of playfulness returned. "We all take responsibility for our actions and inactions. Seph knew what would happen and was ready, just like I know what will happen if I do this..."

The redhead gasped when he was picked up, instinct guiding his legs to wrap around the smiling 1st's hips and his arms around Zack's neck. Before he could argue about being somewhat in public, his back was pressed to a wall and he groaned into the sudden kiss as his lover started grinding their hips together. There was no point in attempting escape, not that he wanted to, but he could at least try to get them to move somewhere private.

"Za-" Opening his mouth to speak only offered Zack a chance to deepen the kiss but then the hands holding him shifted to his ass, lifting him away from the wall, and the SOLDIER started walking. Trying to see just where they were going ended with Talin's lip being caught by teeth that wouldn't let him turn from their kiss.

His growl at the bite was cut short when he was pressed roughly against another wall and one of the supporting hands came up to burry in his hair. "I've missed you, Red," Lips trailed down Talin's neck followed by a tongue that traced the path back up in one hot lick. "I'm going to be a bit selfish today and steal you. Hope you didn't have any plans." The whisper at his ear was intermixed with licks and sucking nips and all the Cadet could do was bite his cheek and try not to moan aloud.

The chime of the elevator opening next to him almost shattered the moment but Zack had called it and, thank the Goddess, it was empty. Pressed into a corner of the lift, his world was again enveloped by Zack and his ridiculously enticing kisses. "I think I'm free to be stolen for the rest of the day, what did you have in mind, Commander?" He made the title a purr and saw the fire in Zack's eyes go from desire, to lust.

"I have a few exercises in mind for you, Cadet, and we're not going to stop till you do them all correctly..."

…

Sephiroth heard the click of the lock on his front door before he allowed himself to open his eyes. He'd originally come back to consciousness when Talin rolled him to the couch but, curious what the teen would do, had remained unmoving and waited. He hadn't expected his feet to be shifted up onto the couch to make him more comfortable, but when the teen sat next to him on the couch, he was ready to end the act.

Before he could open his eyes, he felt unsure hands lifting him and then carefully freeing his hair from where it had been uncomfortably trapped. It was all he could do to remain relaxed and keep his heart beating at the same steady pace. He didn't let himself think about the smaller form that held him precariously upright or the hands that threaded into his long hair. Not till now, when the Cadet he'd sworn to protect and care for was gone, did he allow himself to feel what he had then ignored.

His own selfishness had kept him from opening his eyes after he'd been settled back on the couch and it had almost cost him. As Talin had hovered over him, so close he could feel the redhead's light breathing, he'd realized just how foolish it was to try denying the truth for another six months. For his own sake, he wouldn't have made the effort, but to safeguard Talin's future, he'd move the stars.

…

After the training session that had left the 1st unconscious and the Cadet questioning more than just his own wishes, the teen's life had started to shift back to the way it had been. He'd moved back into the barracks. Dealing with the endless questions from his unit mates on everything from who's place he was staying at to what color boxers Commander Fair wore. All the while, Callian had waited patiently on the sidelines till Talin was able to fill him in.

Most of the details of his 'reassignment' had spread like wildfire among the cadets and even some of the 3rd class had been heard grumbling. That had slowly changed to grudging respect as the SOLDIERs saw him limping or carried from the VR rooms more than once. The cadets on the other hand, were too concerned with making the grade and staying in the program to start any real trouble, but that didn't stop the rumors. That is, till his unit got enough concrete information to start squashing the more damaging or ridiculous pieces of gossip.

The only thing that the teen and worried about was resuming the training sessions with his Mentor but, after a long week of hard, though unremarkable, lessons, Talin had started to relax. That Friday night, he also returned to leading his unit in the patrol rotation and was glad to hear that Callian had been put in charge while he'd been away.

Things were almost normal. Even the ping of a message before he tucked into bed wasn't out of the ordinary, even if it was the General. Each night since he'd moved back, Talin had a message from at least Genesis and his Mentor.

The Commander would always tell him how much he missed having a bedmate, someone to roll over to in the middle of the night for a kiss or a bit of fun. The other's messages were far tamer, revolving around his classes or a change to their scheduled location/time for training as was the case now.

SMS Message From: Sephiroth

Sephiroth: Tomorrow might be Saturday for your unit, but it is not a rest day for you, Cadet.

Sephiroth: 8AM in Training room 50-C. Bring your blades and we shall see how much you learned since we last spared.

…

Anxious yet excited, Talin found himself buzzing with energy as he all but sprinted from the cafeteria to the elevators the next morning. Sparing one-on-one with his Mentor was daunting, but it was also something he craved as much as the freedom of the deep woods or the wide-open spaces of the wastelands.

Swords drawn, senses on high alert, and Mako primed, the teen feels ready to roll with anything the silver 1st can throw at him. Seeing the man standing in the center of the room, holding a standard SOLDIER sword, and lost in thought however, is the last thing he expected. It took less than a moment for the General to shake off whatever had caused such deep reflection but the gravity of his mood remained. Talin felt the pressure in the room like a weight against his skin and, when his teacher motioned him to come closer, he didn't lower his guard as he obeyed.

Sephiroth didn't have to see his Cadet's wary expression to know that he'd unintentionally spooked him. Externally, he took pains to keep his actions slow and obvious till Talin stood across from him in the center of the training room, internally, he crushed the rolling frustration at the news that had caused his dark mood. Letting out a small breath that wanted to be a sigh, the SOLDIER met Talin's confused and cautious gaze before holding up his sword into a lax ready pose.

"Your goal is to disarm me. There are no rules, no right or wrong way, no time limit. We go till you succeed or you're unable to continue trying." The surprise on the redhead's face would have made him smile if not for the continued churning of his thoughts. Talin's mind was no less distracted but it's focus was conveniently on his Mentor and how to break the crushing tension.

Stepping forward, eyes locked with the General's, the teen reached out and let one blade drag across the simple sword, enjoying the ring of steel as they lightly pressed together. "If I disarm you, are you going to tell me what's bothering you? Or am I going to have to play the guessing game that Zack's so fond of?"

He'd meant the question to be serious, but neither could think of the bouncing Commander's antics without amusement. Talin's small smile, the spark of laughter that smothered the worry in his expression, and the teen's tenacious curiosity all made it impossible for Sephiroth to not chuckle.

"I'll make you a better deal than that," Taking one, long step forward, he cut the distance between them in half, putting the Cadet well within striking range of his greater reach. Talin didn't budge. He knew the match wouldn't begin till their blades drew apart, but that didn't stop him from letting small amounts of primed Mako trickle into his arms and legs in preparation.

"I'll tell you the primary issue and then, for every decent attempt you make, I will tell you more. But..." and Sephiroth leaned closer, increasing the pressure of their now locked swords, "for every poor one that ends with you on the ground, you to tell me more about yourself, about your past."

Talin's smiling challenge faltered and, for a moment, was frozen like a deer caught in headlights. Thinking only to retreat from the unexpected turn of their conversation, he almost pulled away, but strangled the instinct before he'd shifted more than an inch. The bright flicker of Mako in the General's eyes made him aware that his teacher was proud of him for not running but also that, had he done so, the match would have started and he would've gained nothing but bruises.

"Do we have a deal or do you still want to play Zack's favorite game?" It was a quiet question, only loud enough to be heard between them over the scrape of metal. Either way, Talin knew he'd get answers, but this was his chance to return the favor.

"Deal," Planting his feet firmly once more, the Cadet leaned into the sword lock as well. "now tell me what's going on."

A pleased smirk spread on the silver SOLDIER's lips. "We" and he stressed the word, "have a mission..." Sephiroth only gave him an instant to absorb the information before he twisted his sword and pulled away, making the blades screech like a klaxon to herald the start of their session.

Reminder: CHANGES FOR FUTURE UPDATES!

I didn't want to have to do this, but I will have to put this story on a brief hiatus. There are still a few chapters between now and that point so keep tuned to these post story notes for updates. When the time comes, I will even include a date when the first post-break chapter will be uploaded so you won't be left guessing.

I repeat: I am not abandoning this story.

I just have to take a short break for several personal matters that I've been neglecting for far too long and then I will be back to give you more chapters and the climactic ending to this story. Till then, please read and review, favorite/follow the story to keep updated, and keep an eye on these messages for further details.