Follow Me
Sephiroth stood at his window, staring out at the city lights. It looked to be a beautiful night; as beautiful as any night in Midgar could be, that is. He imagined the people below enjoying themselves, as they no doubt would be on a Saturday night and wondered how anyone could be happy in such a world, where everything was run by greed and no one truly cared about anyone unless it would somehow further their own twisted ambitions.
He didn't turn from the window at the sound of his door opening. It had been locked and only one person knew his code, so he didn't have to look to know who had entered. He had half a mind to say he wanted to be alone, but he knew that would accomplish nothing, and besides, it would be a lie. Instead he offered a soft greeting to his guest.
"Hello, Zack."
"What're ya standin' around in the dark for?" chimed Zack's cheerful voice from the other side of the apartment.
Sephiroth didn't say that he hadn't felt like turning on the light. The dark seemed to better suit the morose mood he'd been in since the late meeting he'd had with the President.
Zack came up beside him and began to talk about the bar he'd obviously just gotten back from, given the stench of smoke and alcohol that surrounded him. Sephiroth paid him little attention, as he had learned was best when his second was intoxicated. Otherwise, he'd get a headache trying to understand what in the world Zack was saying.
Sephiroth took a long, deep breath, feeling his foul mood already beginning to dissipate. It really was remarkable how Zack's mere presence had such an effect on him.
"...and then I...Seph?"
Sephiroth turned his head slightly.
"What's up with you tonight?" Zack said.
"Nothing," Sephiroth replied, and turned back to the window.
"Yeah right," Zack said. "I dunno why you keep tryin' to pull that, 'cause it's not gonna work."
"Zack..."
"I can tell there's somethin' bugging you," Zack continued as if he hadn't heard Sephiroth, "I mean, I come in and you're standin' here in the dark starin' out the window and I bet you - "
"Zack," Sephiroth said, fixing him with a cool stare. "Stop."
"But - "
"Stop."
Zack sighed. "Fine."
In the heavy silence that followed, Sephiroth stared at the sky and wondered if he said something he shouldn't have. He seemed to have a habit of that.
"I guess I'll just leave you alone, then..."
Zack turned to leave, but Sephiroth grabbed his arm. He looked down at his hand, surprised. It was like his body had just acted on its own.
"No," he said, "Stay."
He didn't know why, but at that moment the prospect of being alone again seemed unbearable.
Zack stopped and looked down at Sephiroth's hand, then smiled.
Sephiroth removed his hand and turned back to the window, looking at his reflection within it. His eyes gazed back at him, glowing softly in the dim light.
"I had a meeting with the President this evening," Sephiroth said.
"Where are we going now?"
"We are not going anywhere," Sephiroth said. "I am going back to Wutai."
"What?!" Zack said and Sephiroth could see the look of absolute disbelief on his face reflected in the glass.
"I am to gather a squad of SOLDIERs for a…diplomacy mission."
"Diplomacy my ass!"
Zack looked as if he wanted to choke someone, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
Sephiroth would have told him to calm down if it weren't for the fact that he felt much the same way.
"And why do I have to stay here?" Zack said.
"I recommended that you stay behind," Sephiroth said, turning to look at Zack.
Sephiroth had been worried that being in Wutai again would trigger some memory and cause Zack to have another breakdown.
"But I - " Zack started, but stopped short. "Oh…"
He turned away, head bowed. "I understand…"
Zack's voice echoed disappointment and something else Sephiroth couldn't quite place. Sephiroth hadn't realized that his decision would bother Zack so much.
"But, in the end, I supposed it's up to you," Sephiroth said. It really would be more tolerable if Zack was there.
Zack looked at him.
Sephiroth fixed him with a solemn look. "Will you follow me?"
Zack's eyes shown with determination. "Through hell and back again."
