WARNING: …FFVII spoilers incorporated with fake stuff…?
Part Thirteen
-You're just a fuck-up,
I'm just a fuck-up,
We're just two fuck-ups,
At least we're fucked-up together.
-"Beckoned", Coal Chamber-
------------------
Even with all the questions Cid had blasted towards the other man, it had been too long since Sephiroth had spoken. Cid was more than irritated at that fact and let the other man know it, even though it seemed as if Sephiroth wasn't listening at all. In fact, the man looked like he was arguing with himself, rolling his eyes impetuously once in a while, or a frown appearing on his face before an inevitable grunt. But Cid himself figured he looked no better than the other man as he absently paced the floor of the office, muttering obscenities.
Despite all logic screaming in his ears, the pilot couldn't help but note that Sephiroth, despite his stubborn refusal to answer anything more Cid demanded, did appear to have at least one shred of sanity in him. The ex-General hadn't razed Traverse Town yet nor had he even attempted to retrieve his precious sword…
…or say anything which contained the words 'Mother', 'puppet', or even that stupid 'mwa ha ha' Cid hated so much.
The most surprising of all, though, was the fact that Sephiroth had actually obeyed his orders, which, Cid deduced, could only mean two things; either Sephiroth really was sane and really did meant no harm to anyone, or he was just a very convincing liar. Cid didn't want to hope for the former just yet; after all, the silver-haired man always was a gigantic loon.
"…an' all ya want is to see Spike?" Cid asked, breaking the ex-General from some sort of reverie.
Little did he know that Sephiroth was arguing with Zack about the merits of not just teleporting out of there and finding Cloud. How he ended up against the suggestion was beyond him, but decided to go with his better judgment. Zack always had been impatient to a fault.
Sephiroth nodded slowly. "That is all I've come here for."
"This is fuckin' ridiculous…," the pilot muttered, more to himself than anyone.
Cid heard a commotion outside of his office, coming closer. "CID!!!"
The pilot thrust the Venus Gospel to Sephiroth's throat as the door flew open, almost surprised his reflexes were still reliable after all those years.
"CID, WHERE…are…"
--------
Leon stood silent after Aerith left, her tears finished falling, consequently leaving his shirt soaking wet. The gunblade wielder frowned, mulling over what the girl had told him. He could see why she had been upset over it, and Leon had to admit he wasn't too thrilled of this new situation either.
He sighed, wondering which person needed him the most at that moment. Cid was by himself with someone Aerith bluntly stated was a madman, and the other one…
Leon started off, fists clenched, and began to look for the more important of the two.
--------
"…this doesn't make any sense…"
"I know… it all seems so…" Aerith wrung her hands together in frustration. "So…"
"…completely fucked-up?" the ninja supplied, rubbing her friend's back soothingly.
Aerith managed a small, sad smile. "I suppose that's pretty accurate."
Yuffie bit her lip and frowned. The entire situation was so unreal to her, so impossible, yet she couldn't shake the disturbing feeling that it did make sense; on some level, at least.Cloud had let the pieces fall into place for her, with his revelation… but how, how could he still feel for Sephiroth? After all he did, what he tried to do?
"…it always bugged me how he didn't cry when Sephy - erm, Sephiroth… killed you… and how he was always so… I dunno…," Yuffie shrugged, crossing her arms. "…y'know… reluctant, sometimes, to admit Sephiroth was an enemy… even afterwards…"
The Wutaian frowned. "And I did kinda wonder why he always sounded so… nostalgic," the ninja paused, studying Aerith's face to see if her word was the right one, "when he said his name, and stuff…"
"Yes…" The Cetra had turned her head to stare at the wall. She knew how passive Cloud reacted towards her death, saw it all as she melded with the Lifestream. "Yes, I know, but… I'd rather not think about that, Yuffie… please."
"Yeah, okay…" Yuffie stopped, letting out a huff. "Man…"
The girls sat in silence for a while, both drowning in their own thoughts. And even though Aerith had known about Cloud - the ability to know things due to her connection with the Planet, as a Cetra - it still hurt to be cast aside - and for a murderer who was supposed to be gone, the worlds having one less evil…
But he had been resurrected, just as she had. It wasn't fair, for them both to be brought back, both wanting - no, needing - the same person after all this time. Aerith couldn't shake the despair from the fact that she had lost Cloud, without ever having an actual chance…
"Hey, c'mon," Yuffie hugged the other girl again, "the Great Ninja Yuffie'll get 'im back for ya!"
Aerith shook her head, taking in a ragged breath. "No, you can't… I can't. He was Sephiroth's from the start…"
--------
Cloud shook his head, swiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. "Leave me alone…"
The newcomer took a few steps closer, boots clacking on the cobblestone street. "…Cloud…"
"Just… fucking… go away."
"…look, Cloud… we need to talk. I know—"
"Leon, just… don't. Don't." The blonde buried his face in his arms.
[Useless. Fucking helpless. Crying like this… get off your ass, Strife, and DO something… don't just sit here, crying in front of Leon. Wasn't earlier humiliating enough?]
"Leave me alone…"
The gunblade wielder sighed and moved forward, crouching beside Cloud. "I… Cloud. Why… why are you crying?" Leon asked. He resisted the urge to lift the other man's face, to wipe away his tears, instead placing a hand gently on the other man's arm. The blonde rolled his shoulders, but the hand stayed put. With an uncharacteristically soft voice, he questioned, "what happened?"
Cloud shook his head again, sniffling as he wiped his nose. He felt stupid, being so emotional. But he was just so tired of it all, his cumulated problems and derisive thoughts pounding down on him mercilessly. He was fast approaching his ultimate breaking point. "Nothing."
"Does this have to do with… me," Leon swallowed the lump in his throat, "or… with that man…?"
The blonde whirled his head towards Leon, a pained expression in his face. "Why, did you see him too? Did you TALK to him?! Where was he?!" Cloud demanded, a stray tear sliding down a childish cheek.
The scarred one frowned at the intensity of the other man's eyes. Leon bit his lip, weighing the pros and cons of telling Cloud what he knew, and the potential consequences. He lowered his head and sighed in resignation, chunky pieces of soft brown hair falling into his eyes.
"…Aerith told me Cid detained him."
"Cid what?!" Cloud shrieked, flinging the older man's hand off his shoulder. "He… he what? Why?! Fuck, Leon, why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
The brunette blinked and stood, folding his strong arms silently over his chest, expression deadly serious. He had just told Cloud what he knew, what could get him into deep shit with everyone, and Cloud had the audacity to yell at him, to throw his reluctant kindness away without any thanks?!
"I suppose because you conveniently forgot to mention this man - who I'm assuming is your supposed 'Light', due to how you're acting - was your old enemy," Leon stated coldly, voice dripping with sarcasm. "And an extremely serious threat, at that."
"They… they said…"
"We can't exactly have mass murderers running free in this town, Cloud, the Heartless are bad enough."
Cloud growled, hands finding their way to his temples. "Oh, gods," he moaned, shaking his head. "They told… Aerith, you fucking lying bitch…"
Leon continued ranting, seemingly oblivious to the blonde. "But you know what… if you want to die, that's your own goddamn problem." The ex-SeeD turned to leave. "…whatever."
"Leon, he… I don't… dammit… Leon, listen to me…"
Reluctantly, the older man waited, Cloud staring at his back. "What?" he bit out, sounding more than slightly irritated.
"They… really don't know… about him, or me…" The blonde frowned.
Leon shifted and set his greyish eyes on the smaller man. "So he wasn't, then? Are you trying to convince me Aerith lied?" Leon snorted. "Don't bullshit me, Strife."
"He… was, but he… it's just… complicated." Cloud swallowed thickly, sighing. "She probably didn't tell you about Jenova, or anything… if so, then not the whole story…"
"So, what? She left things out on purpose?"
Cloud shrugged. "It's possible…"
The gunblade wielder scoffed. "Why the hell would she do that?"
"…jealousy…"
"Leaving out vital information because of a grudge. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, Strife."
Cloud caught the other man's eyes with his own. "Maybe you think so, but it's a very real motive." He looked away, lowering his head. "Please tell me where he is… Squall…"
The brunette studied his younger friend critically. Cloud was obviously hurting; the blonde's voice was so sad, in a state even far beyond depression. His entire body language spoke of it as well, of a deep fatigue and resignation. If he didn't reach his Light soon…
Leon sighed, shaking his head in defeat. "He's in First… back at the Gummi shop, most likely," he answered finally, after a long, careful deliberation. Maybe it was for the best…
Cloud got up suddenly and bolted straight to First, leaving nothing but a blur and heavy footfalls. Rudely the blonde shoved aside all manners of Traverse Town residents, refugees from other worlds, pedestrian inhabitants… even several children who just happened to be playing in his way. Cloud's feet barely touched the ground as he practically flew to Cid's, Leon hot on his trail.
"Cloud! Stop!"
Cloud, however, paid no heed to the brunette's demand, only ran faster, lack of oxygen burning in his lungs. He darted up the steps in First District three at a time, slamming the door of the Gummi Garage open, one hinge torn from the wall.
"CID!!!"
There was still no sign of the older man anywhere. [The office…]
"CID, WHERE…are…," Cloud started as he burst through the door. He stopped abruptly as he saw the gruff blonde pilot standing before a silver-haired man sitting politely in a chair, hands folded in his lap, calm even with the Venus Gospel at his throat. Cid's head snapped back towards the door, a deep scowl etched into his face.
"Spike, look, this dirty fucker's back!" he shouted, eyes narrowed dangerously.
Cloud shook his head and licked his lips, mouth impossibly dry. "It's true… shit… Seph… gods, Seph, Seph, Seph…," he murmured. His legs felt like jelly beneath him as he quivered, from both overexertion and the ability to see his Light once more; the one he had worked so hard and sacrificed so much for.
And Sephiroth looked sane. He looked sane, and healthy, albeit a tad paler than he once was, but still in top form. Death and resurrection hadn't tarnished his ethereal beauty, the grace of which he held himself, nor his powerful aura of strength and confidence.
Cloud was awed by his mere appearance, eyes stuck fast to that face, that beautiful face, those feline eyes, strong features… Sephiroth's hair, so soft to touch, that shimmering silver, flowing like liquid down his back…
He looked every bit as perfect as Cloud remembered. So much like a god, or a fallen angel.
And Cloud wanted to look away in shame. [I don't even have the right to see him again…how… how did I ever… DO that to him…?]
Sephiroth gazed longingly at his - his - small blonde, aqua eyes gleaming with tears of happiness he could never, ever spill. His whole experience up 'til then had been so surreal, meeting a boy who seemed to be himself, and Zack, Zackary was with him, in a sense… Sephiroth, resurrected by a foul god, unwittingly given another chance to be happy…
Instead he sat, quietly acknowledging Cloud's presence with his eyes and a slight smile, making no attempt to move. Even though he desired to tell Cloud all the things he needed to say, all the apologies the younger man needed to hear, or to kiss, touch that gorgeous face and lithe body…
But the last thing Sephiroth was was stupid, and he was definitely unwilling to risk what the irrational pilot might do with that… colorful… lance.
Leon ran through the doorway mere moments later, nearly ramming into the blonde. He hunched over and braced himself on his knees, chest heaving. Cloud was inhumanly fast. "Fuck, Cloud… listen… next… time…," he panted.
"Sephiroth…," Cloud whispered, eyes growing even wider. Sephiroth was real, and back; the blonde whimpered, pressing his knuckle to his own lips. "Gods… Seph."
Leon's head shakily turned to the other man, frowning deeply as he looked between the blonde and the terribly unique - but beautiful, Leon had to admit… - stranger. Could that man really do all the things Aerith proclaimed? He was so… very astounding.
The brunette caught his breath finally, wiping sweat from his brow. As he looked up at Cid, he realized that Aerith couldn't have been lying. Leon had never seen the pilot seem so angry - not even towards Yuffie after she 'accidentally' smashed his goggles prior to that Gummi incident.
Cloud stepped forward, reaching a hand out before he collapsed to his knees, kneeling in front of his silver-haired god. "Sephiroth…" He placed his hand gently on the other man's cheek. "Is it really… you…?" he asked, his hand reaching back to touch the man's soft silver hair.
Sephiroth gave him a small nod. /I want to touch him back…/
/--So why don't you?--/
"What the FUCK are you DOING?!" the pilot bellowed, threatening to thrust the lance into Sephiroth's neck. "He's the goddamn enemy, Spikey, don't fuckin' caress the prick's cheek, fuckin' whip out that sword of yours and Omnislash the rotten bastard!!"
/That's why./
Cloud whirled his head around, glaring coldly at the pilot.
"Get. Out.," he snarled, gritting his teeth.
Cid's hard expression faltered as he lowered the Venus Gospel, giving Cloud a look surpassing that of confusion, the cigarette slipping from his lips. He absently scratched the back of his neck and eyed Sephiroth. "You… so you… wha…"
"I told you the truth, Highwind."
"…the fuck…?"
Leon stepped forward, taking Cid by the shoulder. "Come on, let's go…" The pilot complied and followed, eyes fixed on Sephiroth the entire time.
"…you touch him, I'll cut your fucking head off," Cid growled menacingly, the point of the Venus Gospel again aimed at the silver-haired man. Leon easily shuffled him out the door, closing it behind them.
Cloud trained his eyes back on Sephiroth, looking him up and down in renewed disbelief. "Gods, Seph," he managed, dropping his head into the man's lap, one arm wrapped around his waist, the other on the side of Sephiroth's leg. "I missed you so much," he whispered, tears slipping from his eyes.
"Shh…," Sephiroth cooed, stroking the blonde's spiked hair. "Don't cry, Cloud. It's alright now."
"I can't… I just can't… gods…"
Sephiroth brushed the blonde's cheek, wiping away free-flowing tears. "Cloud…"
The older man tilted Cloud's chin up, leaning down to place a loving, unhurried kiss on his lips. He pulled away slowly, the blonde's fingers twined in silver hair. "You don't have to grieve anymore, I promise you," he whispered, lips brushing the corner of Cloud's mouth. "…when it comes to me, you will never," he stopped to kiss the other man again, "ever, feel pain again."
Zack had the urge to say something about sugar and cavities, but smartly held his tongue. Even though he was technically a part of the reunion - to a point - he still felt as if he was intruding, and a comment like that - no matter how much in jest - would undeniably be less than welcome.
"Seph, all this time…" Cloud frowned and gave a mournful laugh. "All this time, I've been waiting, and now that I've found you… I don't… I don't know what to say…"
The silver-haired man rested his forehead against Cloud's, one hand caressing the nape of his neck. "It's alright. I understand this is a lot to handle, and there's no need to rush."
Again Cloud buried his face in Sephiroth's lap and started to sob. "I'm so tired, Seph…"
"Shh…" Sephiroth slid his other hand down the mercenary's back, rubbing it in small circles. He stopped as it brushed against a rather large growth protruding from the other man's left shoulder blade. Immediately he felt Cloud's entire body stiffen as a hand dug into his leather-clad thigh.
"…what's this?"
The blonde choked out another sob, shaking his head. "I don't… I don't want… don't…" Cloud quivered violently.
"Calm down…"
"…you can't want me now, Seph… I'm hideous…," he let out a ragged sigh, groaning. "I'm… a monster…"
/--…always the ball of angst, Spike…--/ Zack sighed.
/Stop it./ "You, of all people, deserve the least to be called a monster," the ex-General said, his voice kind and soothing.
Cloud merely shook his head.
"What is it?" Sephiroth asked softly, hand still brushing over the protrusion.
"…it's a… wing. A fucking wing… and I'm hideous," the blonde croaked. Sephiroth chuckled quietly and shook his head, tugging the man's cape.
"If you think having a wing is hideous," he replied, "then I must be as well, in your eyes."
Cloud looked up, eyebrows furrowed. "Wha?" His gaze trailed upwards and into the other man's eyes. Sephiroth was smirking. "What are you…?" Then he saw it.
A large, flapping angel's wing, covered in shiny, bluish-black feathers.
/--C'mon, say it, you know you want to!--/
Sephiroth's smirk deepened. Zack was right - he did want to.
"I showed you mine, now show me yours."
The blonde blinked, eyebrows twitching, mouth agape. "Wh…?" Sephiroth smiled thinly, tilting his head.
"Well?" He patted Cloud's back again to garner a response.
"So you really are my other half…," the mercenary whispered, reaching up to touch the feathers.
Sephiroth raised his eyebrow. "You're surprised by this…?"
"And that's why he did it…," Cloud said softly, more to himself than anything. "He said… when he… by the gods…"
"'He'…?" The leather-clad man frowned as the vacant look on the other's face. "Cloud?"
/--Just let him talk, Seph…--/
/But he sounds so…/
/--I know, believe me.--/
"I was powerless, I couldn't… I couldn't prevent it," he sighed. "It was my fault… that I became the hero… I made you the… villain."
Sephiroth's frown deepened. "Cloud?" He shook the blonde softly, but the sapphire eyes stayed transfixed and haunted.
"Because I loved you, he… cursed me with this…"
"Cloud, what are you talking about?"
"That was my sin, Sephiroth." Cloud sighed and shook his head. "When we first met Vincent…"
"Vincent Valentine… former Turk…"
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. And just another one of Hojo's specimens…"
"Gods, please don't mention that name," the silver-haired man grumbled in disgust.
"…sorry. Well, when we first met Vincent, he told us this; I remember it exactly, only because I related to it…" Cloud paused, taking a deep breath. "'I let the one I loved, the one I respected most, face the worst,' and that was his sin." He looked up into Sephiroth's eyes and shook his head. "He was talking about a woman, Lucrecia, and consequently… you, too."
Sephiroth drew his eyebrows together. "I beg your pardon?"
The blonde tilted his head. "You didn't pick this little tidbit from my brain?"
"No."
A lump formed in Cloud's throat as he did his best to swallow it down. "I should've guessed she wouldn't have let you. Jenova," he clarified before Sephiroth could ask. "You know Jenova wasn't your real mother, don't you?"
"A child of an alien over 2000 years old? I should hope not."
Cloud chuckled quietly, but sobered soon after. "Yeah… anyway; this woman, Lucrecia, was Vin's true love… she also happened to work with Professor Gast and Hojo. When they discovered Jenova and what she was - or what they thought she was -, well… you know that part."
"Yes, with SOLDIERs."
"Exactly. Vincent said Lucrecia was pregnant, and Hojo… Hojo and Gast injected her with Jenova cells…" He paused. "I'm sure it was Hojo who convinced Gast to do it."
Sephiroth nodded. "Yes, Gast was a brilliant man, when on his own. That sort of madcap idea could only come from outside influence."
"You weren't just… produced, Sephiroth," Cloud suddenly announced as he stood up.
"…but those notes—"
"No. I think they were false ones, planted there. Probably by Hojo, so you would…," the blonde trailed off, making circles with his hand.
The ex-General shook his head, placing his palm on his forehead. "Cloud…"
"…so you would be more susceptible to Jenova's lies, and he wanted you to become a god. He was a madman, and all she did was lead him on, too…"
Cloud scowled. "He was happy when you summoned Meteor, he was fucking happy that you were going to destroy the entire Planet. He wanted you to, was going to help you if we didn't stop him. He was proud of all of it, too, thought his experiment was a success. Gods, he even injected himself with goddamn Jenova cells… his precious fucking specimen…"
"…Cloud, please," Sephiroth murmured, mind abuzz. "Just let me take this all in…"
The mercenary took Sephiroth's hands in his own. "I-I'm sorry. I'm not blaming you… I got off-track," Cloud frowned, cursing his stupidity. "What I wanted to tell you is… you were Lucrecia's child."
"…Valentine's progeny?" Cloud blinked. "…his offspring, Strife."
"Oh…" The blonde bit his lip and started to pace. "That's another thing; we don't know. You're either his son… or…"
Sephiroth closed his eyes tightly. /…please, say anyone else, anyone else but him…/ He took a deep breath before he asked, "…or?"
"Or… Hojo's."
With that said, Cloud did his best to sit on the other man's lap, wrapping strong arms around the other man's shoulders. He knew the possibility of the mad scientist being Sephiroth's father would not have a happy result. Of course it would be downright devastating to Sephiroth to know that he was so willingly offered up to science, dedicated to be nothing but a lifelong experiment by his own flesh and blood.
And it was. The silver-haired man buried his face in the smaller one's neck in shock, and felt Cloud running his fingers through his hair.
"You started off like any other child, Seph, but they fucked you over. Even though Vincent doesn't blame Lucrecia, I do… Vin… he was appalled by the thought of it, human experiments… Lucrecia was with Hojo, too… and I think Vincent knew he could've been your father, Seph…
"He tried to stop her, at least talk some sense into her, but she didn't listen. She was loyal to Hojo… and apparently more than she was to Vincent. Hojo shot him, and she didn't do a damn thing, Seph. She stayed with the project, she let that madman experiment on him, willing or not. Then Vincent was locked away, in ShinRa Mansion, and you were born a while after."
Cloud snorted disdainfully. "I guess at that point she finally wised up and ran away from it. But what's beyond me is why she couldn't take you with her…" The blonde felt Sephiroth shaking slightly and held him tighter. "Even though I know she's sorry for what she did, I can't help but blame her…
"But Vincent blames himself. That was his supposed sin: to him, he let Lucrecia do it, even though he didn't just sit idly by…" Cloud frowned, eyes focusing on the ceiling. "…not like I did."
"…what do you mean…?" came the hesitant question, Sephiroth's voice filled with burden.
The blonde made a small noise in the back of his throat. "What I mean is, I couldn't stop you… earlier, I… in the library, I wanted to… but… I couldn't," he paused to take a breath, "I couldn't get through to you, or take away those fucking books… and I didn't let Zack go visit you down there, I… told him not to bother you…" Cloud rested his cheek on Sephiroth's head.
"I know Zack would've been able to make you stop… he was always stronger than me, anyways… but no, you kept reading, and I just kept watching, and waiting, until finally…"
"Cloud, stop," Sephiroth ordered, embracing the blonde tight. "That… wasn't your fault."
"Oh, it was my fault, Seph, it was. I know it was, just like Vincent believes it was his." Cloud sighed heavily, a hand moving to touch the feathers on Sephiroth's wing. "This, though… the transformation, seeing you with this wing… I think understand now, why Vincent and I…," he gestured at his cape and claw, "why I'm… like this."
Sephiroth frowned as Cloud continued, "it wasn't a conscious decision… but I have to show you something." Cloud stood quickly and tore off his cape, letting his batwing extend fully. Sephiroth's eyes widened impossibly.
"Gods, Cloud…," he whispered, running his fingers on the wing from tip to stern.
"Do you see, Sephiroth? Do you see that you are the angel, the innocent in all this, and I'm… a demon?" Cloud shook his head, lowering his eyes. "Vincent was plagued by a demon, too… and two times, Seph, two times I've seen you as an angel.It has nothing to do with what side you're on, now or ever. It can't. This is because of me, just like that was because of me," the blonde stated, gesturing to Sephiroth's wing.
"Your feathers… when I had to battle you before, they were white, Seph. And now your wing is black, because I had fallen into Darkness. Because we're linked, I took you with me…" The mercenary gestured uselessly. "…and because Vincent and I shared similar tragedy, and feelings, that fucking uselessness…"
"Cloud…"
"…maybe, in a way, this could prove that he's your actual father, Seph. That maybe he and I are linked more deeply than just that shared past, but through you…" Cloud shook his head. "Vincent was cursed with those monsters by Hojo because he couldn't help Lucrecia… cursed with Chaos…
"With me, well… Hojo cursed me with this everlasting body, this inability to age or die easily… my memory loss, five years of pure torture, to see my best friend die right in front of me, when we were so close to our goal, and Aeris…" At the name, Cloud sighed deeply. "And to have to kill you, twice…
"I was cursed, because I couldn't help you. So the punishment for my inability to do anything but be worthless was the fact that I had to kill you… Vincent's punishment, to stay in that fucking coffin for 26 years…
"But you… you were always the innocent, Seph. You were cursed by Hojo from the start… you never had a chance."
Cloud abruptly turned, biting down hard on a knuckle. The realizations were flying at him too fast, too strong, yet he couldn't help but let them all out like a flood. Doing so put him in pain, physical pain, but he couldn't stop, not when everything came together so easily.
"…Cloud."
The blonde spun to see Sephiroth looking at him, his aqua eyes glassed over. He cringed as a single tear slid down the older man's cheek, the simple path tearing straight to Cloud's heart. "Seph, it's true," he said softly, "you didn't do anything, I know you didn't. It was all just an illusionary crime against you…"
Sephiroth was silent for a few moments, no more than that one tear falling. He looked away, sucking in a breath. "I felt… during the battle, I felt a connection… with Valentine. I could never figure it out, but I remember it disturbed me how similar the two of us appeared physically. Our facial structure is nearly identical, though his was more fragile…" The older man paused. "Is he here, do you know? Was he transported to these worlds as well?"
"Honestly, I don't know," Cloud answered, truthfully. "I'm not sure, but… this… I think this is Chaos' wing."
The silver-haired man murmured, "I see. You believe he's dead, then?"
Slowly, Cloud nodded. "Yeah… I think that connection between him and me kicked in, because he is dead. Which means I took Vincent's sins, and his biggest burdens, the ones that made him feel so inhuman… the claw, the monsters in him, though I bear Chaos on the outside instead of Limit Breaks, the claw's just a glove…" He sighed, a hand pressed to his forehead. "And with all that, ultimately, Seph… I've cursed us both."
Sephiroth stood up, wrapping the diminutive blonde in his arms, his cheek resting on top of the man's head. "No, Cloud," he said quietly. "We are not cursed. These are simply battle scars, and they will serve only to make you stronger." He kissed his head before continuing. "You blame yourself - you and Vincent both blame yourselves for the inability to sway the ones you loved.
"But these things are in the past; you cannot change the past, only look forward, to the future. Forget the regrets you hold, Cloud. I assure you there was no way at all for you to keep me from insanity, nor Valentine with Lucrecia.
"This may surprise you, Cloud, but I do believe in Fate. Certain events in life cannot be prevented, no matter how much you believe they can. Life is filled with inevitabilities, though there are few deviations from the path one walks, consequences of actions. Consequences of influence.
"Hojo and Jenova both were extremely influential… and neither one would have allowed deviation from the path they had set for Lucrecia, nor the path for myself. No matter how hard either of you fought, Lucrecia and I would not have swayed. We are powerless until the paths have been walked.
"But you tried. You tried with me, and Vincent with Lucrecia, because you cared. Both of you could not break through, but… it was not your fault you failed. It was not your fault that you both loved.
"Love is not a curse… love is not a sin." Sephiroth bowed his head, holding the blonde tight enough to suffocate. "But know this… I love you, Cloud. I love you so much it hurts…"
Blue eyes sparkled, threatening tears. "You've never said that before," the blonde whispered. "I always felt… but I never really knew…," he continued, shaking his head. "I love you too, Seph… so much…"
The ex-General kissed the smaller man's cheek softly and smiled. "I know, Cloud."
A small knock to the door rang out as Leon opened it, poking his head inside. "Strife… Cid wants to see you at Yuffie's." Steely blue eyes shot up towards Sephiroth as the brunette added coldly, "you too. You both have a lot of explaining to do."
He stopped, glancing back at Cloud. "…you owe me, big time." With that, Leon shut the door and left.
Cloud bit his lower lip, nearly drawing blood. He looked up into Sephiroth's eyes and grimaced. "I'm… in deep shit, Seph."
The silver-haired ex-General nodded slowly, leaning in to give Cloud a deep, lingering kiss. "Yes. Yes you are." He raised his eyebrow and smirked, patting the hilt of the Masamune. "Do you still have Zack's sword—"
/--THE BUSTER SWORD!--/
Sephiroth rolled his eyes to himself. "—…the Buster Sword?"
Cloud nodded his reply. "I think I left it out there," he motioned towards what lay beyond the office door. "Why?"
Sephiroth let out a sigh. "Because, I do believe we're going to need it."
----------------------
A/N: Chapter revised just a touch on 7/12/04. And I don't believe Vincent is Seph's father anymore due to a friend of mine but dammit, it still works.