DISCLAIMER: No, in spite of this being my eleventh chapter already, I do not own the characters nor the FF7-verse. They're Squaresofts.. *insert bored sigh*
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I know you're desperately waiting for A/S cuteness (like me!!!), I'm sorry it's taking me so long to get to the good parts.. I'm glad you liked the dream-sequence, though! I'm gonna make a little spoiler now: Aeris and Sephy will meet again in this chapter.. Now you can't wait to get to that part, huh? Sorry if Zenobius' ramblings confuse you: he doesn't know he's a specimen. Yet. *laughs* Umm yeah, and about the little Tifa-thing at the end of chapter 10: Seph wanted to make sure Cloud wouldn't lie, by well.. blackmailing him. Sort of. *grins awkwardly* Anyway, enjoy the chapter!!
CHAPTER 11.
But thou O God: look on my
glory
and thou shalt cry
O Evening Star how art thou fallen from Heaven!
- Kallimachos -
"W-what are you going to do?" Aeris asked Zenobius, who was tapping his fingers against a wooden table nervously.
"Shut up." He told Aeris, not interested in talking with her. Where was Sephiroth? Those idiots should not have had any problems convincing a person travelling with them to try and rescue Aeris.. Zenobius knew Sephiroth mastered teleport-spells, he had memorized the information given to him about Sephiroth back at Shin-Ra Headquarters. So many files of just one man.. He figured Professor Hojo knew what a monster he had created, and wanted to be prepared for anything. Zenobius had even studied the vast amount of tissue sample's there were of Sephiroth. Hojo must've had plenty of time to gather them..
"You are going to trade me for Sephiroth, aren't you?" Aeris guessed.
"So what if I am?" Zenobius glared at her. What was wrong with her anyway, he thought, she's not afraid. It was a miracle such a naive, trusting person was still alive at all.
"You can't!" Aeris protested, feeling the ropes chafe against her wrists. Zenobius had tied her snugly against a wall, and Aeris knew she had no possibility to escape on her own. But still, the thought of sacrificing another to save her - especially Sephiroth - was a little too much to cope with for Aeris. Why did she always get into situations like this? First the Shin-Ra people, now Zenobius.. Would it never end? Would she always be at the mercy of those stronger than her?
"Just watch me, girl." Zenobius snarled, walking closer to Aeris. He kneeled in front of her face.
Aeris turned her head away, flinching at the sight of him. Aeris remembered Elmyra once telling her, that eyes were the mirrors of soul. Through them it was possible to see the true essence of a person.. But in Zenobius' eyes, there was nothing. Only a black void, consuming the dim light the ceiling lamp was shining.
"What, you're afraid of me now?" Zenobius said, turning her head with his hand. Aeris didn't answer him, but tried to back as far away from him as she probably could. The ropes were hurting her wrists.
"He'll beat you for sure!" Aeris tried her best to make her voice seem confident. "He'll be really angry if you hurt me!" She closed her eyes, a look of disgust on her face as Zenobius absent-mindedly placed one of his cold fingers on Aeris' lips.
"I can see why he'd like you." Zenobius muttered, lowering his finger on her skin. He ran the finger painfully slowly over Aeris' chin, down the side of her throat.
"Go away, please, go away.." Aeris cried out with a fragile voice.
* * * * *
"You will?" Cloud blinked, painfully aware of how suprised he looked like.
"Just show me the place where she disappeared.." Sephiroth nodded, turning his back at everyone. He felt embarrassed, for some irrational reason.
"I brought some of the residue with me." Tifa lifted a small plastic bag, that had rust-coloured powder on the bottom of it. Sephiroth turned his Mako-gaze towards Tifa, and then grabbed the bag.
"So he really did teleport.." He muttered, studying the powder.
"So where is she?" Cloud asked.
"Hard to say.. Before I go there and check." Sephiroth smirked.
"On your own?" Cloud raised his brow suspiciously.
"Of course." Sephiroth nodded.
"Oh no, that's out of the question." Cloud shook his head, not wanting Sephiroth to have a chance to see Aeris alone. He might try to kill her.. or kidnap her again. Besides, if Zenobius somehow manages to kill him.. Aeris shouldn't be alone with him either, Cloud sighed. "Take us with you!" He demanded.
"No." Sephiroth's voice was as uncomfortable as it was annoyed. "I'm going alone, or I'm not going at all.." He told everyone, poaring the contents of the bag on the palm of his hand.
Sephiroth,
don't you dare help them!
They might not want to chase you anymore..
The puppet might not hate you if you save that wretched
cetra.
He won't join us at the reunion!
I will remain weak!
You'll ruin everything!!
Sephiroth?
Sephiroth scattered the powder in a cirle around him, without raising his eyes to meet the AVALANCHErs following his every movement. He lifted his hand when he was finished, and with a relaxed, practiced movement Sephiroth dissappeared into a cloud of smoke.
"Damn, I really hate it when they do that." Barret stared at the dust on the ground.
"So what do you suggest we do now?" Cloud looked at Red, almost accusingly.
"What?" Red blinked.
"He's there alone with Aeris and Zenobius.. Whatever happens, we're pretty much screwed." Cloud explained.
"It's true we do not know what will happen once Sephiroth finds Aeris.. But at least we did something?" Red shrugged.
"I agree.. This is better than just waiting and seeing what'll happen." Tifa nodded at Red, a somewhat hurt look in her eyes. Was it something I said, Cloud wondered.
"Oh, aren't you a big bunch of sad losers!" Yuffie proclaimed from the corner to which she had escaped Sephiroth. "We should look for the General, and not.. sit around here moping about it." She said, standing up.
"Our ninja there might have a point, ya know.." Barret sighed.
"We should get back to the place where Aeris originally dissappeared, that's where they are likely to appear." Cloud nodded, thinking back to where exactly it had been.
"..And when we'll find him, I'll kick him like this and this.." Yuffie represented her battle skills.
"Oh yeah, sure you will Yuffie." Tifa rolled her eyes, glancing at Cloud. She felt so guilty for being jealous of him.. Jealous? Tifa began to analyze her feelings. Why was it, that she felt bad every time Cloud looked out for Aeris? She knew she wouldn't lose him, they'd always remain friends whatever might happen.. But maybe she'd begun to want more than friendship, Tifa mused.
* * * * *
Sephiroth opened his eyes slowly.
He noticed he was in a dimly lit cargo-hull of a large ship. There was something weird about it though.. water was leaking through the walls, even though they were so high they were supposed to be on top of sealevel. Unless.. He peeked out through one of the dirty, round windows of the boat.
"We're underwater.." Sephiroth smirked, and watched a bright yellow coloured fish swim past the window. It was quite ingenious of Zenobius to come up with such a hideout.. It was a place he would have chosen for himself as well, for it was impossible to escape here without the talent of teleporting.. Sephiroth realized he needed to steal Zenobius' teleport-powder, or he and Aeris would be forever imprisoned to this ship located in the bottom of the sea.. That was not an option for him, since he was still loyal to his mother, Jenova. Sephiroth knew Jenova was against his helping a traitor of their kind.. But this was something he had to do, not really for the sake of Jenova or even Aeris.. but himself.
Sephiroth walked further into the ship, listening for any sounds. The ship's metallic core shrieked, as the tremendous weight of water masses crushed against it. Sephiroth wondered how long the ship would hold together..
"Leave me alone!" a scared voice shouted, and Sephiroth felt a bolt of electrity run through him. "Aeris?" He whispered to himself, walking carefully towards her voice.
"Ooh, you're a feisty little thing.." a male voice laughed cruelly.
Watching behind a corner, Sephiroth finally saw Aeris, sitting with her back against a wall. Her hands were tied behind her back.. The man sitting in front of her held his hand on Aeris' knee, slowly lifting her long pink skirt up.
"You heard her. Leave her alone." Sephiroth told Zenobius from the door, his blood boiling with rage.
"..Sephiroth." Zenobius said, turning his eyes.
For a moment Sephiroth though he saw fear in the raven-black haired man, but it passed quickly.
"H-hi.." Aeris swallowed, staring at Sephiroth. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and as she stared at him she had a pleading look in her eyes. She looked so fragile and small, Sephiroth thought, his attention briefly turned from Zenobius.
"You must want her back, right?" Zenobius cut Aeris loose, and pulled her to her feet. "Alive, I believe?" He grinned maliciously at Sephiroth.
"I promise I'll take her back perfectly intact.. after I've killed you." Zenobius leered.
"How very optimistic of you." Sephiroth's voice was tense with anger, as he wrapped his fingers around the handle of his Masamune.
"We'll see about that, now won't we?" Zenobius tilted his head, and pushed Aeris towards Sephiroth.
She rushed over to him, stopping only a few feet away from him. "I'm sorry.." Aeris whispered, probably unable to think of anything else to say.
"It's good to see you're OK.." Sephiroth begun, closing his eyes briefly.
"Sephiroth.." Aeris said, her voice shivering with regret. "I've missed you too." She continued, suddenly wrapping her arms around Sephiroth neck. He was forced to lean down, since Aeris was somewhat shorter than he. "I'm so sorry.. about everything.." She sobbed, hugging Sephiroth fiercely.
"Ehrm.. Aeris.." Sephiroth stared down at her awkwardly. It seemed so biculiar, Aeris seemed to be comforted by his mere presence. After getting over the initial shock of another person so close to him, the hug felt kind of.. nice.
"Aww.. Isn't this heart-warming." Zenobius' voice lacked any concearn.
Aeris raised her eyes to Sephiroth's, as though she was asking if he would be OK. Sephiroth couldn't answer her. "You'd better go somewhere safe." Sephiroth's voice was emotionless, but in his heart he felt strange warmthness. Aeris seemed so worried over him..
"Don't get yourself killed." Aeris whispered him, and ran behind a large metallic container.
"Let's finish this." Sephiroth glared at Zenobius, a blank expression on his face.
"Fine by me." Zenobius nodded at him, and the both men grabbed their swords.
Sephiroth held his Masamune tightly, it's long blade at complete balance. Zenobius made the first move, slashing at him. He missed, and their swords clashed together. "Huh, you're pretty fast." Zenobius complimented half-heartedly, turning away from Sephiroth. He shot Sephiroth with a bolt2-spell, but it didn't do much damage. Sephiroth swung the Masamune powerfully, but Zenobius jumped back and dodged the hit. Kneeling, Zenobius tried to hit Sephiroth to his feet, but he jumped and avoided the jade-green sword's blade. Slashing at Zenobius again, Sephiroth managed to scrath the man's chest. They both took a few steps back, slightly breathless due to the intense battle. "Flare." Sephiroth spoke, concentrating his thoughts on the advanced spell. Zenobius stared at him, baffled by his strength. None of the text he had read could have prepared him for this, Zenobius thought as the spell hit him.
"Aargh!" Zenobius held his arm, running towards Sephiroth.
"Sephy, watch out!" Aeris screamed, turning Sephiroth's attention away from Zenobius. The jade green blade cut his side painfully, sending him down on his back. A victorious grin on his face, Zenobius leaned closer to Sephiroth, placing the tip of his sword on his throat. "How about that. To think I defeated a legendary SOLDIER.." He grinned arrogantly.
"It's not over yet." Sephiroth growled at Zenobius in pain, sending him flying against the ceiling. As he dropped down unconsiouss, Sephiroth faltered towards him intending to make sure he was dead.
"Sephiroth.." Aeris interrupted shyly, holding her hands behind her back.
Sephiroth raised his sword, and was about to strike Zenobius, adrenaline still pumping in his veins. He glanced at Aeris, who was staring at him frightened.
"Let's just get away from here." Aeris pleaded, pointing towards a hole in the wall. Water was poaring through it, and her clothes were soaked.
"As you wish.." Sephiroth sighed, sheathing his sword. He picked up the teleport powder, kicking Zenobius in the side as he followed Aeris towards the upper floor. They had to leave soon.
While making the circle of the powder, Aeris stared at Sephiroth, a troubled expression on her face. "Doesn't that hurt?" Aeris asked, referring to the minor wound Sephiroth had gotten from Zenobius' sword. Judging by the look in her eyes, she felt responsible for him getting hurt.
"Not really." Sephiroth said, extending his hand towards Aeris. "Come here.." He said, an uncomfortable tremor in his voice.
"W-why?" Aeris asked.
"We've got to have a.. fysical contact to be teleported together." Sephiroth said, trying to avoid looking into her eyes.
"OK then." Aeris smiled, and grabbed his hand. "Where are we going?" She asked.
"I'm not sure.. To the place where he took you from." Sephiroth explained, holding tightly onto Aeris as he finished the spell. The white cloud of smoke vanished, revealing a man dressed in black waking up on the floor.
"I.. shall.. never.. be beaten.." Zenobius shouted in frustration, hitting his fist against a nearby wall.
* * * * *
"Sephiroth?" Aeris asked, holding her eyes tightly closed. "Are we there yet?" She asked, peeking a glimpse of the scenery. She recognized the green scenery spreading before her.. They were halfway to Junon.
"Yeah.." Sephiroth answered her, walking a few meters away from her. In the distance, a tall tower was visible. Sephiroth stared at it, remembering vaguely it's name: Fort Condor.
"What's that?" Aeris asked him. "Do you think we could go there and maybe.. not walk all the way to Junon tonight?" She suggested with a sheepish grin.
"I guess it's OK." Sephiroth agreed, pressing the side of his body with his right hand. He could see blood dripping through his fingers, even though he had only received a superficial wound.
"That looks really bad." Aeris said, a sad expression on her delicate features. The petite girl began to follow Sephiroth as he turned his back at Aeris and started walking towards Fort Condor. "Hey listen.. I don't think I thanked you yet for saving me.. So.. How about we go out sometime?" Aeris asked, giggling as Sephiroth's entire body tensed at her question.
"Go out? Like on a date?" Sephiroth asked, gazing at Aeris over his shoulder.
"Yeah." Aeris smiled, visibly brightened up.
"Why not." Sephiroth smiled at her, momentarily forgetting his pain.
After an hour of walking, the two of them reached Fort Condor. Aeris had done most of the talking, asking questions about AVALANCHE and how the meeting with them had went. She had wanted to ask other things too, like where Sephiroth's mother was and was he still following her. Aeris decided against asking though, not wanting to upset Sephiroth now that he was hurt.
It required some climbing to get inside of Fort Condor, and Aeris couldn't help but admire Sephiroth's strength and composure. Not once did he even flinch of pain, even though she knew he was obviously in pain.. Aeris wished she could break through his pride, and make him show a little emotion. Most of the time, he seemed so cold and distant.. Yet Aeris was convinced there was more to him than that. He had depths. Of the very, very hidden kind. But depths.
Fort Condor seemed more filled with life than Aeris had imagined from the outside. There were shops everywhere, a small restaurant and people walking around, talking relaxed. It was such a welcomed change from the bleak cargo-hull she had spent the previous day, Aeris forgot her fears and weariness instantly.
"Could we maybe stay here for the night?" Aeris asked a man cleaning a table of a small restaurant.
"Sure. I won't charge for the room, but the food's quite expensive. It's difficult to get anything decent these days, with the SOLDIER's trying to occupy this place again. This time their excuse is AVALANCHE members terrorising Midgar, can you believe it.." The man sighed, shaking his head. "Anyway, the room's down those stairs, in the end of the hallway." He said, pointing towards a hole in the ground that had the ends of ladder's poking out of it.
"Thankyou!" Aeris smiled at him, and then walked over to Sephiroth, who was standing in the shadows. He was leaning against a wall, following Aeris with his eyes.
"We've got a room.. But there are more ladders to climb before get there." Aeris told him, frowning apologetically. "Will you be OK?" She asked, watching as Sephiroth walked over to the ladders.
"Yeah." He smirked, decending to the hallway below. It was dimly lit, there were only a few oil-lamps scattered on the walls. The bare ground was covered with a dirty carpet. It seemed all of the rooms were similar, hollow caves dug into the ground.
"It's at the end of this hallway.." Aeris said, jumping to the ground from the last step of the ladders.
"Honeymoon room?" Sephiroth read the sign on the door and glanced at Aeris amused. "You sure don't waste any time.." He laughed and opened the door, noticing Aeris had blushed bright red.
Aeris realized, that the man above had assumed they were a couple.. And now she was way too embarrassed to go correct his ideas. She merely took a calming breath and entered their room. "Don't get any ideas, Sephiroth.." She giggled, "it's not even our first date yet!"
In the next chapter.. Naw, I'm not gonna spoil it. But it's gonna be fluffy cuteness!! They're alone!! They share a room!! *jumping up and down excited* Huh. Sorry for that little outburst. I know, you hate it that Zenobius survived right? We haven't seen the last of him, that's all I can say. Well then, see ya soon! Please review, it's so nice to know someone reads this!