Disclaimer: ... No, I *sniff* don't *sniff sniff* own... FF7... *sniff,
hiccup* Square...soft does *sniff sniff*.. not me... never *hiccup* me...
Author's Note: Wow, I'm running out of ideas for the disclaimer! Okay, SORRY TO SORCERESS AERIS!!!!! I really do know that sorcerer is a guy, and sorceress is a girl. I probably spelled it wrong and my spell check was idiotic. *sigh* Thanks go out to Sorceress Aeris, Kyris, goatfish456, Tatsiro, and Sugarpea for their excellent reviews of my last two chapters! *applauds all good reviewers* *nudges other reviewers* Come on, come on, you know you can do it!! I know I'm a bit of a freak about reviewing, but it's only because I like knowing people are reading and enjoying my story! Plus, I've got a ton of essays due for my classes (most of which are due tomorrow). But, instead of doing them, what am I doing? I'm sitting here, typing up the next chapter just for you guys! Don't you all feel special? Behold the power of reviews!!
Enjoy!!
Chapter 33:
A Time Like This
It was late. It must have been at least nine or ten at night. Not late enough to worry, but late enough to be irritated. Why was he never home? It was the night before his son's training would start. So, why wasn't he here, being a supportive and encouraging father?
It was an old question, but the answer had not yet been found. It might have been easier on him if he had no one living with him, but Zack knew he couldn't survive alone. Yet. He still needed things- clothes and food, among others, and he had no way of paying for those things himself. He didn't see how Sephiroth was able to live on his own. It must be tough on him.
Zack closed his eyes and let his body fall onto his bed. Sephiroth. Now there was a mystery. It was impossible for him to understand what exactly the silver-haired boy was thinking, and trying to only made him frustrated. There were times when he felt like they understood each other completely. Then, Seph would go and do something that made Zack do a double- take. Like earlier today, when Aeris had sat with them.
He had been so sure, SO sure, that Aeris would want to talk to him that he hadn't even thought about Sephiroth. And, look how that had turned out. With Aeris and Seph having some major bonding time, while Zack sat on the other side of the desk, alone.
That wasn't what was bothering him, though. Not really. The way they had seemed so comfortable together didn't really make him upset. No, what made him angry was the fact that Sephiroth seemed to only open up to her. Zack had tried and tried to get the stoic boy to speak to him, to no avail. Then, along came Aeris and poof, Seph was opening up like a flower blooming in the sunlight.
Was that what she was to him? Sunlight? Something that gave light to every corner of his world, and helped him to grow? Zack snorted. It seemed way too poetic for someone like Seph.
But Aeris, oh yes, he could imagine Aeris being someone's sunlight. Someone's world. In fact, it seemed only natural that she should get attention for her actions. Everything she did seemed directed towards making others happy. Everything. There wasn't one time he could think of that Aeris had acted selfishly. Well, he certainly didn't want her to change. She was, after all, somewhat of a... touchy subject for him.
Zack laughed to himself and rolled over, facing the ceiling. Was that the best way to define how he felt about her? That she was a touchy subject? True as it may be, it hardly seemed fair to refer to such a person as her as a touchy subject. And, his feelings were stronger than that.
Aeris was someone who accepted everyone, no matter who they were. Even if he did something awful to her, he had a feeling she would forgive him for it before he even asked. She was just that nice. It was so hard to explain. Maybe it was just the way she looked sometimes, when she was standing in the playground. Especially when she found a small crack in the plate, and a sliver of sunlight fell down upon her. She would close her eyes and smile gently, holding her hands out in front of her as if to catch the rays before they fell to the dusty ground.
He heard a door opening and narrowed his eyes. That would be his father. Why was he never home on time? What was so important that he would make his son wait for him?
A knock on his door. Zack sighed and said, "Come in."
His father entered, leaving the door wide open behind him. The man was a good six feet tall, and had the same lean look as his son. However, his hair was styled much differently, and his eyes seemed lighter.
"I'm home."
"I noticed."
His father sat on the edge of Zack's bed. "Come on, don't be like that. You know I had to-"
"Work, yeah I know. You always have to work."
His father stiffened. "Son, we've had this conversation before. I need to work to make money. The bills won't pay themselves, you know. If you want to eat every day, someone's got to go and make money to buy food for us. Do you want to eat everyday?"
Zack simply looked at his father. The elder man sighed.
"I know you're mad at me, but there's nothing I can do."
"You could at least try and be home earlier. Especially tonight."
"Why tonight?"
Zack's eyes widened and he turned away from his father. "Forget it." He stared at the wall, and felt his father move slightly.
"What's wrong?" When he remained silent, Zack's father sighed. "Come on, Zack, you know you can tell me anything."
"Leave me alone." Without warning, Zack rolled off of his bed and began to rummage through his closet. He randomly pulled out some clothes and started looking for a suitcase to put them in. "I've got to pack."
"Pack? Why? Where are you- oh." His father stopped and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Zack, I completely forgot about your training."
"Yeah, well."
"Zack."
"What? What do you want?"
His father took on a stern look and gestured towards the pile of clothes. "You should be thankful I'm even letting you go through with this. You know how I feel about the SOLDIER program."
"You've told me often enough."
"Do you always have a smart remark to make?"
"Yes."
The older man sighed and put his face in his hands. "I give up. I give up!" He threw his hands into the air and let them drop back down to his sides. "You're hopeless." Zack didn't reply, and his father turned to walk out. He stopped at the open doorway before turning back around. "You know, Zack.." Zack continued packing. "You really shouldn't go." He paused in his packing and looked up at his father. "It's dangerous. You could be hurt, really badly. And I won't be there to..." He swallowed thickly and continued. "Well, I just won't be there."
Silence descended upon the room, and only the sound of laborious breathing could be heard. Zack didn't know what to say. He never knew what to say at a time like this.
"Dad?"
Silence.
"This is about mom, isn't it?"
Silence.
"You know, it's not your fault."
"..."
"You do know that, don't you?"
His father started walking out the door.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, son, I know," he muttered before closing the door shut behind him.
Author's Note: Wow, I'm running out of ideas for the disclaimer! Okay, SORRY TO SORCERESS AERIS!!!!! I really do know that sorcerer is a guy, and sorceress is a girl. I probably spelled it wrong and my spell check was idiotic. *sigh* Thanks go out to Sorceress Aeris, Kyris, goatfish456, Tatsiro, and Sugarpea for their excellent reviews of my last two chapters! *applauds all good reviewers* *nudges other reviewers* Come on, come on, you know you can do it!! I know I'm a bit of a freak about reviewing, but it's only because I like knowing people are reading and enjoying my story! Plus, I've got a ton of essays due for my classes (most of which are due tomorrow). But, instead of doing them, what am I doing? I'm sitting here, typing up the next chapter just for you guys! Don't you all feel special? Behold the power of reviews!!
Enjoy!!
Chapter 33:
A Time Like This
It was late. It must have been at least nine or ten at night. Not late enough to worry, but late enough to be irritated. Why was he never home? It was the night before his son's training would start. So, why wasn't he here, being a supportive and encouraging father?
It was an old question, but the answer had not yet been found. It might have been easier on him if he had no one living with him, but Zack knew he couldn't survive alone. Yet. He still needed things- clothes and food, among others, and he had no way of paying for those things himself. He didn't see how Sephiroth was able to live on his own. It must be tough on him.
Zack closed his eyes and let his body fall onto his bed. Sephiroth. Now there was a mystery. It was impossible for him to understand what exactly the silver-haired boy was thinking, and trying to only made him frustrated. There were times when he felt like they understood each other completely. Then, Seph would go and do something that made Zack do a double- take. Like earlier today, when Aeris had sat with them.
He had been so sure, SO sure, that Aeris would want to talk to him that he hadn't even thought about Sephiroth. And, look how that had turned out. With Aeris and Seph having some major bonding time, while Zack sat on the other side of the desk, alone.
That wasn't what was bothering him, though. Not really. The way they had seemed so comfortable together didn't really make him upset. No, what made him angry was the fact that Sephiroth seemed to only open up to her. Zack had tried and tried to get the stoic boy to speak to him, to no avail. Then, along came Aeris and poof, Seph was opening up like a flower blooming in the sunlight.
Was that what she was to him? Sunlight? Something that gave light to every corner of his world, and helped him to grow? Zack snorted. It seemed way too poetic for someone like Seph.
But Aeris, oh yes, he could imagine Aeris being someone's sunlight. Someone's world. In fact, it seemed only natural that she should get attention for her actions. Everything she did seemed directed towards making others happy. Everything. There wasn't one time he could think of that Aeris had acted selfishly. Well, he certainly didn't want her to change. She was, after all, somewhat of a... touchy subject for him.
Zack laughed to himself and rolled over, facing the ceiling. Was that the best way to define how he felt about her? That she was a touchy subject? True as it may be, it hardly seemed fair to refer to such a person as her as a touchy subject. And, his feelings were stronger than that.
Aeris was someone who accepted everyone, no matter who they were. Even if he did something awful to her, he had a feeling she would forgive him for it before he even asked. She was just that nice. It was so hard to explain. Maybe it was just the way she looked sometimes, when she was standing in the playground. Especially when she found a small crack in the plate, and a sliver of sunlight fell down upon her. She would close her eyes and smile gently, holding her hands out in front of her as if to catch the rays before they fell to the dusty ground.
He heard a door opening and narrowed his eyes. That would be his father. Why was he never home on time? What was so important that he would make his son wait for him?
A knock on his door. Zack sighed and said, "Come in."
His father entered, leaving the door wide open behind him. The man was a good six feet tall, and had the same lean look as his son. However, his hair was styled much differently, and his eyes seemed lighter.
"I'm home."
"I noticed."
His father sat on the edge of Zack's bed. "Come on, don't be like that. You know I had to-"
"Work, yeah I know. You always have to work."
His father stiffened. "Son, we've had this conversation before. I need to work to make money. The bills won't pay themselves, you know. If you want to eat every day, someone's got to go and make money to buy food for us. Do you want to eat everyday?"
Zack simply looked at his father. The elder man sighed.
"I know you're mad at me, but there's nothing I can do."
"You could at least try and be home earlier. Especially tonight."
"Why tonight?"
Zack's eyes widened and he turned away from his father. "Forget it." He stared at the wall, and felt his father move slightly.
"What's wrong?" When he remained silent, Zack's father sighed. "Come on, Zack, you know you can tell me anything."
"Leave me alone." Without warning, Zack rolled off of his bed and began to rummage through his closet. He randomly pulled out some clothes and started looking for a suitcase to put them in. "I've got to pack."
"Pack? Why? Where are you- oh." His father stopped and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Zack, I completely forgot about your training."
"Yeah, well."
"Zack."
"What? What do you want?"
His father took on a stern look and gestured towards the pile of clothes. "You should be thankful I'm even letting you go through with this. You know how I feel about the SOLDIER program."
"You've told me often enough."
"Do you always have a smart remark to make?"
"Yes."
The older man sighed and put his face in his hands. "I give up. I give up!" He threw his hands into the air and let them drop back down to his sides. "You're hopeless." Zack didn't reply, and his father turned to walk out. He stopped at the open doorway before turning back around. "You know, Zack.." Zack continued packing. "You really shouldn't go." He paused in his packing and looked up at his father. "It's dangerous. You could be hurt, really badly. And I won't be there to..." He swallowed thickly and continued. "Well, I just won't be there."
Silence descended upon the room, and only the sound of laborious breathing could be heard. Zack didn't know what to say. He never knew what to say at a time like this.
"Dad?"
Silence.
"This is about mom, isn't it?"
Silence.
"You know, it's not your fault."
"..."
"You do know that, don't you?"
His father started walking out the door.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, son, I know," he muttered before closing the door shut behind him.