Disclaimer: This is not mine. It all belongs to the lovely and talented
Squaresoft.
Author's Note: Okay, I have a really good excuse. See, these aliens came down and told me that if I didn't submit myself to their long and hideous experiments they would destroy the world. Of course I couldn't let that happen. However, just as they were about to take me, this really hot and sexy guy showed up. He had a huge sword and looked dangerous, like he had a tragic past of some kind. I knew I would eventually help him come to terms with that tragic past. He saved me, but the aliens had already started their invasion. We fought against them, but they eventually took over planet earth. Luckily, before they could complete their evil goal, I used my super cool powers to kick their asses from here to Timbuktu. Their evil was erased from the universe, and everyone who was previously enslaved forgot about the whole incident. My honey and I found a nice spot to spend the rest of our lives together in, occasionally venturing out to fight evil when called upon. I did save him from himself, as they say, and he broke free of his angst through his love for me. ^^ See, I told you I had a really good excuse.
Chapter 40:
Hearing Things
To someone else, it might have been funny.
Standing there with an apron on, holding a rag in one hand and a bottle of cleaner in the other, Sephiroth found their situation to be anything but.
"Are you just going to stand there watching me?"
Sephiroth considered for a moment. "Yes."
Zack growled under his breath. "You're supposed to be helping me."
"It's not my fault you're a complete klutz."
Zack sighed. "I knew this would happen. I just knew it."
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. "Well, did you think I was going to actually try and help you clean up this... this... THIS?" He gestured around wildly. "I'm not cleaning up after these disgusting people."
"You are one of these disgusting people, you know," Zack pointed out. "You eat here like the rest of us."
"At least I clean up after myself. This is... " Sephiroth trailed off, at a loss for words.
Zack couldn't help but smile at his friend. He used to think Sephiroth complained for no reason. Now he was sure of it. Of course, it was such a huge part of him that if the silver-haired boy had just accepted this without question, Zack would have died of shock.
Of course, it wouldn't have been the first time. In fact, there were a few times that stood out in his short memory. The first being when he had offered his hand to Sephiroth, and the boy had stared as if it was diseased. That was a little off-putting to Zack, but he quickly regained his composure. Come to think of it, that day had been full of surprises. Meeting Aeris, Sephiroth speaking to him, getting situated in a whole new environment. It had been worth it, though.
Looking at Sephiroth now, it was hard to see the boy who had cried in the alley. Oh, there were traces of him, of course. The glint in his eyes that meant he was feeling some sort of strong emotion. Most likely anger or frustration, but it could be something completely different. That was the problem with trying to figure out Sephiroth. You never really knew if you were right until it backfired. You could be talking for an hour and suddenly one word would throw him off the deep end, making him completely antisocial and unreasonable again. It really was irritating.
Zack sighed. There was also the undeniable fact that Sephiroth would avoid him if given the opportunity. Between spending time with someone, and being shut in a dark corner alone, Zack knew which one Sephiroth would pick. Not that it came as any surprise. Even at first glance, he had seemed the type to shut himself away and never come out. Zack wondered again what had happened to him to make him so cold.
Yes, that was the word. Cold. The only word, really, to describe Sephiroth. Except for bitter. That would work as well. Cold and bitter. It might not have been the nicest description, but it was accurate.
At least, it had been accurate before. And, it probably would be accurate again. But, for the moment, it was definitely inaccurate. While Zack had been busy thinking, Sephiroth had picked up the rag and was scrubbing at the stove top. Was this just a dream of some sort? Would he wake up and find out that Sephiroth had just beaten him into submission, and he was lying on the floor somewhere, bleeding? Always a possibility. Not very likely, though.
"Well?" Sephiroth asked, still facing away from Zack. "Are you going to help, or do I have to finish this myself?"
"No, no, I'm helping!" Zack hurriedly pushed aside all thoughts and began attacking the refrigerator. "See?"
Sephiroth didn't make a comment, but Zack would have sworn he heard a small laugh. If asked later, though, he would merely say he was hearing things. After all, who had ever heard of Sephiroth laughing like that?
Author's Note (part 2): Yeah, so for anyone who doesn't believe my COMPLETELY TRUE STORY *cough cough*, here's a lie for you. I went to put in my disc that has EVERY FANFICTION I'VE EVER WRITTEN ON IT, and lo and behold. Guess what happened. Take a guess. You know you want to. It said 'disc not formatted'. So I was all like, well it better GET formatted, and bloody quick! So I attacked it, but it didn't work in my favor. End result: I lost everything I've ever written (practically), and had to re-write this chapter. Of course, what else do you think was on that disc? That precious, glorious little disc? My research papers? My essays? My life? Nah. And, not having my own computer makes it impossible to have a second copy. Who? Me? Bitter? Nah... *pounds head into wall multiple times, walks away and kicks small child, small child cries, parent comes over, she kills parent and proceeds to lick the blood of the knife* Tastes like chicken.
Besides that, this chapter is now ENTIRELY DIFFERENT from what I had originally written. Oh, well. I like it. ^^ I know it's short. And you're going to kill me, but I won't be able to update till Monday. *dodges daggers* Wait! You shouldn't have thrown those yet! There's more good news! Christmas break is coming up next week, and you know what that means! No computer for a whole month! Now, what are you going to throw at me, hmm? *dodges axes, pitchforks, a chainsaw, two ferrets, and the tab from a soda can* Eep. I will, however, make this promise to you! BY THE TIME I GET BACK FROM CHRISTMAS BREAK, I WILL HAVE AT LEAST THRITY PAGES WRITTEN. THIS MEANS, FOR YOU, ONE HUGE CHAPTER OF FUN. IF I DO NOT HAVE THIS WRITTEN, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STALK AND KILL ME. I REPEAT, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STALK AND KILL ME. THE NEW YORK LOTTO IS NOW EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS. I REPEAT, THE NEW YORK LOTTO IS NOW EIGHT- MILLION- DOLLARS. Thank you. (The New York Lotto. Hey, you never know.)
Author's Note: Okay, I have a really good excuse. See, these aliens came down and told me that if I didn't submit myself to their long and hideous experiments they would destroy the world. Of course I couldn't let that happen. However, just as they were about to take me, this really hot and sexy guy showed up. He had a huge sword and looked dangerous, like he had a tragic past of some kind. I knew I would eventually help him come to terms with that tragic past. He saved me, but the aliens had already started their invasion. We fought against them, but they eventually took over planet earth. Luckily, before they could complete their evil goal, I used my super cool powers to kick their asses from here to Timbuktu. Their evil was erased from the universe, and everyone who was previously enslaved forgot about the whole incident. My honey and I found a nice spot to spend the rest of our lives together in, occasionally venturing out to fight evil when called upon. I did save him from himself, as they say, and he broke free of his angst through his love for me. ^^ See, I told you I had a really good excuse.
Chapter 40:
Hearing Things
To someone else, it might have been funny.
Standing there with an apron on, holding a rag in one hand and a bottle of cleaner in the other, Sephiroth found their situation to be anything but.
"Are you just going to stand there watching me?"
Sephiroth considered for a moment. "Yes."
Zack growled under his breath. "You're supposed to be helping me."
"It's not my fault you're a complete klutz."
Zack sighed. "I knew this would happen. I just knew it."
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. "Well, did you think I was going to actually try and help you clean up this... this... THIS?" He gestured around wildly. "I'm not cleaning up after these disgusting people."
"You are one of these disgusting people, you know," Zack pointed out. "You eat here like the rest of us."
"At least I clean up after myself. This is... " Sephiroth trailed off, at a loss for words.
Zack couldn't help but smile at his friend. He used to think Sephiroth complained for no reason. Now he was sure of it. Of course, it was such a huge part of him that if the silver-haired boy had just accepted this without question, Zack would have died of shock.
Of course, it wouldn't have been the first time. In fact, there were a few times that stood out in his short memory. The first being when he had offered his hand to Sephiroth, and the boy had stared as if it was diseased. That was a little off-putting to Zack, but he quickly regained his composure. Come to think of it, that day had been full of surprises. Meeting Aeris, Sephiroth speaking to him, getting situated in a whole new environment. It had been worth it, though.
Looking at Sephiroth now, it was hard to see the boy who had cried in the alley. Oh, there were traces of him, of course. The glint in his eyes that meant he was feeling some sort of strong emotion. Most likely anger or frustration, but it could be something completely different. That was the problem with trying to figure out Sephiroth. You never really knew if you were right until it backfired. You could be talking for an hour and suddenly one word would throw him off the deep end, making him completely antisocial and unreasonable again. It really was irritating.
Zack sighed. There was also the undeniable fact that Sephiroth would avoid him if given the opportunity. Between spending time with someone, and being shut in a dark corner alone, Zack knew which one Sephiroth would pick. Not that it came as any surprise. Even at first glance, he had seemed the type to shut himself away and never come out. Zack wondered again what had happened to him to make him so cold.
Yes, that was the word. Cold. The only word, really, to describe Sephiroth. Except for bitter. That would work as well. Cold and bitter. It might not have been the nicest description, but it was accurate.
At least, it had been accurate before. And, it probably would be accurate again. But, for the moment, it was definitely inaccurate. While Zack had been busy thinking, Sephiroth had picked up the rag and was scrubbing at the stove top. Was this just a dream of some sort? Would he wake up and find out that Sephiroth had just beaten him into submission, and he was lying on the floor somewhere, bleeding? Always a possibility. Not very likely, though.
"Well?" Sephiroth asked, still facing away from Zack. "Are you going to help, or do I have to finish this myself?"
"No, no, I'm helping!" Zack hurriedly pushed aside all thoughts and began attacking the refrigerator. "See?"
Sephiroth didn't make a comment, but Zack would have sworn he heard a small laugh. If asked later, though, he would merely say he was hearing things. After all, who had ever heard of Sephiroth laughing like that?
Author's Note (part 2): Yeah, so for anyone who doesn't believe my COMPLETELY TRUE STORY *cough cough*, here's a lie for you. I went to put in my disc that has EVERY FANFICTION I'VE EVER WRITTEN ON IT, and lo and behold. Guess what happened. Take a guess. You know you want to. It said 'disc not formatted'. So I was all like, well it better GET formatted, and bloody quick! So I attacked it, but it didn't work in my favor. End result: I lost everything I've ever written (practically), and had to re-write this chapter. Of course, what else do you think was on that disc? That precious, glorious little disc? My research papers? My essays? My life? Nah. And, not having my own computer makes it impossible to have a second copy. Who? Me? Bitter? Nah... *pounds head into wall multiple times, walks away and kicks small child, small child cries, parent comes over, she kills parent and proceeds to lick the blood of the knife* Tastes like chicken.
Besides that, this chapter is now ENTIRELY DIFFERENT from what I had originally written. Oh, well. I like it. ^^ I know it's short. And you're going to kill me, but I won't be able to update till Monday. *dodges daggers* Wait! You shouldn't have thrown those yet! There's more good news! Christmas break is coming up next week, and you know what that means! No computer for a whole month! Now, what are you going to throw at me, hmm? *dodges axes, pitchforks, a chainsaw, two ferrets, and the tab from a soda can* Eep. I will, however, make this promise to you! BY THE TIME I GET BACK FROM CHRISTMAS BREAK, I WILL HAVE AT LEAST THRITY PAGES WRITTEN. THIS MEANS, FOR YOU, ONE HUGE CHAPTER OF FUN. IF I DO NOT HAVE THIS WRITTEN, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STALK AND KILL ME. I REPEAT, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STALK AND KILL ME. THE NEW YORK LOTTO IS NOW EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS. I REPEAT, THE NEW YORK LOTTO IS NOW EIGHT- MILLION- DOLLARS. Thank you. (The New York Lotto. Hey, you never know.)