3. No good deed goes unpunished!
Sephiroth stumbled through the darkness, clutching his head and tried to calm his heaving breath. His entire body was aching and his head was threatening to explode. Voices came from all around him, and he backed away unsteadily as flames shot up in front of him. Screams pierced the silence and the scent of burned flesh filled the air, making Sephiroth close his eyes tight. The ghosts of Nibelheim shrieked in agony, trying to tear at his clothes in vain, making the former general turn and run.
He didn't know where he was running, only that he had to get away.
Running until his legs wouldn't carry him anymore, Sephiroth fell to his knees. Leaning forward he placed his hands on the ground to keep himself from crumbling and panted for air.
The darkness was once again suffocatingly silent, and Sephiroth let his head hang while he caught his breath before slowly gazing up, starting slightly when he saw a pair of legs in front of him. Swallowing hard, he let his eyes wander up to see the face of the person in front of him. Pain shot through his head as he recognized the woman looking down at him and Sephiroth shivered. "I'm sorry," he whispered, shaking with fear and nausea. The young wutai-woman his lieutenant had killed in front of his eyes under the excuse that she was a spy, when Sephiroth knew the real reason had been her public refusal of the lieutenants advances. The lieutenant had driven his sword through her, killed her, and Sephiroth had let him off with a warning. There were lots of women in Wutai, but he had no worthy candidate to replace his lieutenant in his ranks.
The ghost slowly pointed towards Sephiroths hands, and the silverhaired man gazed down at them, but finding nothing out of the ordinary he gazed up at her again. His eyes widened at the blood staining the woman's stomach and he quickly looked down at his hands again.
Shaking his head, Sephiroth scrambled to his feet and held out his blood-soaked hands. "N-no... I didn't... It wasn't me! I couldn't...!"
He turned to run again, but froze as he was staring at an enemy soldier who'd pleaded for mercy in vain. Gazing wildly around, Sephiroth shivered helplessly as ghosts of his past materialized around him, blood-stained and accusing. He was surrounded. Flames shooting up around them, and screams grew louder by each second.
Falling to his knees again, Sephiroth closed his eyes and covered his ears with his hands, his own scream muted by roaring flames and the ghosts agony.
Suddenly everything became quiet and the flames vanished along with the ghosts. Shivering and swallowing down sobs, Sephiroth slowly raised his head as he let his hands fall to his sides. Above him, high in the sky, Meteor was burning in the darkness like a flicker of hope.
Yes, Meteor was the answer. He knew mother had interfered with his nightmare again, saving him from the ghastly sights to show him his true purpose once more.
Getting up on trembling legs, Sephiroth gave a dazed nod. Yes, summon Meteor. Get the Black Materia. Don't let anyone interfere. Kill anyone who interferes!
He could almost feel mother's approval, the soothing touch on his skin, urging him to hurry.
Meteor would end it all. He would become a god! Summon Meteor and kill them all!
Sephiroth drew a sharp breath as he saw the young woman walking out of the darkness, automatically reaching for the Masamune and starting violently as he found it gone. Blinking with surprise he stared down at the empty holster. Quickly looking back, Sephiroth exhaled with pain and surprise as the girl was in front of him, her hand driving the Masamune through him.
"Is this what you want?" The girl asked him in a voice softened with regret and sadness, "does this solve everything...?"
Sephiroth twitched, grasping the offending wrist and tried to speak, but was unable to as he was struggling to breathe at all.
Reaching up to gently cup his face with her free hand, the girl leaned closer until all he could see was her amazingly green eyes.
"Or do you want... forgiveness, Sephiroth?" Aeris asked, her lips brushing over his as she whispered the words for his ears only.
Starting awake, Sephiroth sat up abruptly, heaving for air and not noticing the hand stroking his arm and the voice calling out his name.
Aeris had been torn out of her peaceful sleep when Sephiroth had begun tossing and turning, frowning as if he was in pain. She could only guess what was haunting his dreams, but she quietly moved over to his side and reached out to try and comfort him. Running a gentle hand over his damp forhead, Aeris tried talking to him in a soft voice and gasped startled when he suddenly sat up.
The silverhaired man was drawing deep gulps of air, trembling helplessly under the careful hand she let slide down his arm.
"Sephiroth...?" Aeris was almost afraid of startling him even more, but seeing him this distraught made her heart ache for him. "Sephiroth, it's ok... It was just a dream. You're safe now... Safe with me..."
He cast a quick glance over at her, his reptilian eyes piercing her accusingly before something reminding of iron control seeped into his system again and his shivering calmed.
There was a short silence, then Aeris tried a smile, "bad dream, huh?"
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed, then he turned to stare straight ahed. "We're leaving now."
Letting her hand rest on his slightly damp shoulder, Aeris felt his pain like her own and she knew she wanted to do something, anything, to ease his mind. But what? Sephiroth was not someone who let people close to him, certainly not to pour his misery out for other ears beside his own to hear.
Aeris sighed, unknowingly letting her hand move up to stroke his head like calming a child, and she couldn't help but to notice how he tensed under the gesture. Frowning curiously, she let her hand slide through his hair and let her touch become more dwelling and affectionate. Like she suspected, Sephiroth tensed even worse.
Had no one touched him without intending to hurt him or take advantage of him?
Reaching out for the brush on her nigh table, Aeris then crawled over to get into a comfortable sitting position behind Sephiroth and carefully gathered his long hair in her hand before letting the brush slide though it.
Slowly glaring back at her, Sephiroth was tense enough to explode through the ceiling, "and what do you think you're doing...?" His voice deadly sharp, but also confused.
Aeris gave him a dazzling smile, "isn't it obvious? I'm brushing you hair."
She returned to her brushing, humming softly as she let him stare and process what was happening. An entire minute passed before he slowly turned his head back to stare straight ahed, shoulders relaxing slightly.
"No braid, or I swear I'll..." Sephiroth growled, not sure why he allowed her silly whim.
Giggling, Aeris tilted her head as she admired the silver hair and it's silkiness, "are you sure...? I mean... such long, beautiful hair just begging to..."
Her voice trailed off in a laugh as he sent her a withering look, and Aeris motioned for him to relax, "fine! No braid, I promise!"
It was almost with awe that she watched his silver hair run between her fingers, and after a while feeling his muscles relax and his breathing turned peaceful. This big, misguided warrior was not the cold beast so many saw him as, but a result of humanity's passion for cruelty. Knowing nothing but pain and death, he lashed back at the world that had hurt him and was drowning in his own darkness.
But time was running out... would she reach him before it was too late?
Sephiroth had allowed her to brush his hair for some time, he'd even let her rest her cheek on his shoulder blade as she made no move to do or say anything else. The feeling had been... nice. A comforting feeling and it had soothed his racing heart. But then a restlessness started to spread inside him and something was pulling at him to get up, get moving and reach some place...
Mother was calling him.
So, now they were trudging through the snow again towards what was known as Gaea's Cliff and Sephiroth could feel it in his blood that they were getting closer. Almost there now. And the puppet was following. Everything was falling into place! A jab of pain shot through him, and he knew his body wouldn't last more than a few days more. It didn't matter. He was almost there...
Sephiroth had to smile slightly at the disbelief in in the girls eyes as she stood at the beginning of the steep cliff.
"We're... climbing up there...?" Aeris sounded doubtful, "all the way... up there...?"
He reached out and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him despite her startled sound.
"Climbing takes too long," he declared with a smirk, feeling his powers stirring in his blood, the gift from mother.
Sephiroth didn't wait long enough for the girl to regain her senses and begin fighting against him, but kicked off with all his might, smirking even wider as Aeris pressed her face to his chest and clutched him hard in fear. They were almost flying...
He landed securely on the slippery ice-lane and was a little surprised to find the girl still clinging to him. And she was shivering, he noticed with an uncertain feeling. Sephiroth cleared his throat, "we're here.."
It still lasted a few heartbeats longer before she slowly dared to lean slightly back and open her eyes, but her hands remained clutching his coat. "Y-you weren't going to drop me, were you? I held on so hard, but..."
Sephiroth swallowed hard as he gazed down at her fragile form and a strange feeling spread in his chest. "I wasn't going to drop you... You're safe in my arms..."
He managed a weak smile to return hers, then stepped away, "we have to continue now..."
Sephiroth looked a little puzzled as she grasped his right hand and gazed nervously around, but gave another weak smile, "that's my sword-arm. I need that, you know." Aeris cast a quick glance at his hand, then released him only to dart over on his left side and take his other hand.
This was ridiculous, some voice declared at the back of Sephiroths mind. She had been on the battlefield before, and was too grown to be holding his hand! But... he remained silent and lead her on, trying to ignore the feeling of her little hand in his.
They made their way into the ice cave, the walls showing the reflection of the unlikely couple to Aeris amusement, but a distant sound had caught Sephiroths attention. Feeling the cave's guardian long before it showed itself, Sephiroth didn't flinch at all as Schizo stepped forward and roared it's challenge at them.
Aeris clutched his hand so hard it nearly hurt, but made no sign to flee and it surprised him a little. The girl obviously had more courage than what he'd given her credit for. The fire-breathing head of the monster hissed and snaked it's way towards them, while the ice-breathing head raised itself high and glared at them.
Slowly pulling out the Masamune, Sephiroth smirked as the fire-breathing head recoiled with a startled snarl. Yes, he thought, you know this sword and it's power.
The monster hissed furiously with both heads, but backed away and stepped enough to the side for the two humans to pass.
Sephiroth replaced the Masamune, tugging Aeris along. "Let's go."
Stumbling along, the girl was staring wide-eyed from him to the monster, "w-what just happened...?"
Sephiroth sent her a cold look, "it recognized it's superior." He didn't like the fear he saw in her eyes, and turned to stalk off as he dragged her along.
Aeris was just about running to keep up with Sephiroths pace when a sound caught her attention, and she abruptly dug her heels in to bring them to a halt.
The silverhaired man turned to glare at her, "now what?!"
Blinking with surprise, Aeris could hardly believe what she was seeing, but as they didn't disappear when she closed her eyes and reopened them again it was no doubt the chocobos standing in the opening of a cave were real!
"What are they doing in here?" Aeris knew very well there were chocobos living in the icy country, but surely there was nothing for them to eat inside the mountain? How had they gotten themselves in there? She pulled free of Sephiroths grip and took a step towards the huge birds, her heart sinking as she noticed their scruffy shape. "They look miserable..."
"Why should we be the only ones," Sephiroth sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Come on. We're continuing. Now!"
Aeris sent him a harsh look, "we can't just leave them here!"
The former general got an annoyed look, eyes narrowing, "why not? It'll give the two-headed beast something to eat!"
Gasping, Aeris had forgotten about the monster. No wonder the chocobos were in such a bad shape, they didn't dare to approach the exit with that predator on the loose. It was probably that thing that had chased them into the cave in the first place. "We have to help them!"
Sephiroth eyed her doubtfully, "we?"
Moving over to grasp his arm, Aeris knew she had to make him understand if she were to have any chance of saving Sephiroth at all. "They're defenseless, Sephiroth! They wont stand a chance! If that monster doesn't kill them, they'll starve to death!"
He made a weak effort to shake off her hand in vain, "so? They're only birds!"
Aeris held his eyes intensely, "they're defenseless. We have to help them!"
A second passed as they were staring a silent battle, then Sephiroth finally rolled his eyes with a resigned groan, "fine!"
Giving a silent cheer, Aeris threw her arms around him and hugged him tight, even though she knew he only agreed to shut her up and it would be over faster than if he were to argue against her.
She felt his instinctive tenseness, his awkward petting on her shoulders and gave him a final squeeze before releasing him. "Now, you can control that monster when we have to pass it with the chocobos?"
Sephiroth shrugged, looking a little embarrassed, "sure." A vile look and a threatening pull of the Masamune would keep the beast at a distance. "But these are wild chocobos, you know. Without greens, we wont be able to catch them!"
Giggling, Aeris took his hand again and pulled his reluctant form along, "relax! I know how to handle chocobos!"
The big birds warked suspiciously as they came closer, and Aeris released Sephiroth to hold out a hand in a friendly gesture. "It's okay... We're here to help you..."
A sharp look at Sephiroth managed to tweak a; "Yeah... sure..." from him, and Aeris turned back to the chocobos.
Like before, Aeris felt the unspoken bond between her and any living creature on the planet hum slightly and the birds lowered their nervously raised heads. "That's it... Calm down... Everything is going to be okay now... That thing wont be able to hurt you. Me and Sephiroth is gonna make sure you get your freedom again. How does that sound?"
The reply was a cheerful wark as one of the birds lowered it's head enough for her to pet it, and she smiled softly as it closed it eyes in unspoken trust.
Smiling happily, Aeris glanced back at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth was busy eyeing the second chocobo as warily as it was eyeing him. Mutual suspicion with mutual distaste.
Sephiroth could only remember liking one chocobo through his entire life. His first chocobo. The pitch-black chocobo he'd named Raven. The bird that had died in battle, crashing beneath him with a sword jammed into it's feathery chest. No chocobo had ever been like that one. And this filthy, thin and mangy chocobo was staring at him like he was some nasty bug. Damn birdbrain!
The girl was now watching him expectantly, and Sephiroth cleared his throat, "yes, nice. Lovely. Let's just get this over with!"
Aeris motioned for him to lead the way, and he was about to stalk back to the opening when she pointed meaningfully at the chocobo still glaring at him.
Sephiroth made a faint movement with his hand, "well, bird? Heel!" It worked on dogs, but by the narrow look the chocobo sent him, Sephiroth figured it wasn't as affective with birds. He raised his eyebrows at Aeris, showing he'd tried and the imbecile animal didn't want to be saved!
The girl glared.
Sephiroth shifted restlessly, then stalked over to the damn bird. "Fine!"
He reached out to grab a hold of the feathery neck, and his quick reflexes saved him from the beak that suddenly snapped after him.
"Hey!" Sephiroth jumped a step back, fuming with anger. "You ungrateful choco-mcnugget!" His hand landed on the Masamune when Aeris cried out and suddenly was by his side, her hands over his.
"The damn thing tried to bite me!" Sephiroth declared angrily, and the chocobo warked satisfied.
The girl prevented him from drawing the Masamune, quickly stroking his arm reassuringly. "I'll lead the chocobos. You follow and make sure the monster doesn't eat us. Sounds good?"
Glaring murderously at the chocobo, Sephiroth nodded tensely, "just get that damn thing away from me!"
Aeris hurried back to the chocobos and put them in motion, hoping to get them as far away from the fuming warrior as possible, and Sephiroth drew a deep breath while closing his eyes. A stupid birdbrain wasn't going to get to him! It was not worth it!
That was when he felt a insane weight stepping on his foot and Sephiroth's shot open to see the chocobo moving pass him; it's clawed leg strategically placed over his. He didn't move as the bird walked on, two entire seconds passed, then the pain reached his brain and he screamed more in fury than agony.
"That's it!" Sephiroth declared in rage, taking off in a running chase, "I'm gonna kill it!"
Starting, Aeris sent the birds fleeing with a slap on their sides as she noticed even the two-headed monster lurking behind them fled at the sound of Sephiroths anger as well.
The silverhaired man heaved for air as he came to a halt in the exit, knowing he had no chance of catching up with the culprit.
He didn't even notice her walking up beside him, sneaking her arms around his left arm, and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Look at them..." she sighed dreamily, "isn't that a beautiful sight?"
Sephiroth grumbled, watching the animals race through the snow with a wish for them to fall and break their scrawny necks. "Sure is, as long as they keep doing that; Running the hell away from me!"
He heard her laugh softly against his arm, "meanie! He was only trying to protect himself. You scared him."
Scoffing, Sephiroth saw the chocobos disappear, jumping easily from plateau to plateau until they were gone. "I scare everyone."
"Not me," Aeris declared gently, and he sent her a dry look.
Releasing him, she waved away his words, "alright, sometimes. But it's getting further and further between each time!"
Sephiroth watched her walk inside again, before quickly gathering himself and following to make sure she didn't become monster lunch.
Why did it make him happy hear she didn't fear him? She should fear him! He wanted everyone to fear him! The power mother would grant him was to make them all fear him! ...but it was nice to know there was one who didn't hate him for not being human...
They had wandered through icy passages for what seemed an eternity, but at least Sephiroth didn't tell her to stop her humming this time. Instead he seemed to listen and secretly enjoy the melodic sounds, even if he'd probably die before admitting it. Such a strange man, Aeris mused, as dark and terrifying as her worst nightmares. Yet, filled with raw vulnerability and with a desperate need to belong. The ancients had told her, but it was only now Aeris had come to realise what they had meant when they spoke of the Crisis from the sky. Jenova was not a conscious being as Aeris had thought all along, but a virus. Capable of infecting and with it's only purpose to destroy. A virus. Infesting hosts, and destroying everything in it's greed. Maybe saying it wasn't conscious would be wrong, but it had no mind of it's own capable of hate or mercy. Jenova didn't want to destroy this planet as well because it hated it. No, Jenova wanted to destroy everything because that was simply what Jenova did.
Aeris glanced over at Sephiroth, feeling once again the pain at what he'd gone through. Painful sympathy for what had been done to him, and what he never had.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she saw the exit approach, and they soon stood in front of yet another steep hill.
"Oh no..." Aeris breathed in a whimper, and felt Sephiroths grin.
He held out a hand towards her, "I promised I wouldn't drop you."
The weirdest thing happened as she looked into his eerie eyes; Aeris realised she trusted him. When it came to this, she trusted him.
Even Sephiroth got a slightly surprised look when she accepted his hand, but he gently pulled her closer and let his arm go around her waist.
Closing her eyes and hiding her face to his chests, Aeris felt him gather himself, then they sprung into the air and flew up through the coldness.
Their flight ended faster this time, but he landed just as safely and she slowly withdrew from his embrace only to gasp at the sight that met her.
They were standing on the edge of a huge crater. The crater she'd only dreamed about in her nightmares. The entrance to Jenova.
Sephiroth's eyes were hazed and he smiled absently at the sight, "you recognize it, right?"
She could only nod, fearing her voice wouldn't carry her. The sight was just too horrible to stay unaffected. This enormous gash in the planet.s surface, the scar that told of the planets struggle to survive.
Aeris was almost out of time...
She quickly gazed up at Sephiroth to say something, anything, that would make him reconsider what he was doing, but before she could open her mouth he stepped away from her while clutching his head with a pained groan.
"Sephiroth?" Aeris reached out and gently took a hold of his face, fighting against panic, "what's wrong?"
He trembled like a newborn colt, breathing strained, and Aeris was loosing her fight against the panic. "Sephiroth?!"
"M-mother is calling..." The silverhaired man managed to grit out, "and this body is failing me..."
Frowning confused, Aeris helped him sink to his knees as he swayed dangerously, "I don't understand... Failing?" The thought of Jenova being able to manipulate his mind so easily scared her beyond reason.
Sephiroth managed a sneering laugh tainted with pain, "yes, failing. This body is dying."
Absently stroking his hair away from his face, Aeris made him look at her, "d-dying?! What a-are you talking about? You're dying?! Why?!"
The former general seemed to be calming slightly, twitching from time to time. "Five years ago... I died... That puny puppet caught me by surprise and... killed me. I'm only here because of mother. She gives me the power to move, even when my body is frozen in ice as well as time."
His words made Aeris go numb, her fear of Jenova increasing by each word. "Then... what am I touching now...?"
Eerie eyes finally met hers, angry and challenging. "Every clone made of my body is infused with mothers cells as well. It hardly takes an effort for me to take over such a form. Only... this one seems to be failing me faster than I thought..."
Silence followed his words, and Aeris turned to stare absently into the crater, her calming hands having halted on his shoulders. It was even worse than she thought... even worse than what she had feared...
Maybe it was too late...
Sephiroth saw his words frighten her, and told himself it was for the best. She had been dreaming, hadn't she? Dreaming he would see the light and abandon his and mothers great plan. That would never happen!
It didn't hurt to see her turn away, nor feeling her withdraw from the news of his inhumanity... No, dammit, it didn't hurt!
He'd managed on his own his entire life, this wouldn't even be a challenge!
Sephiroth started slightly as she took his hand and found Aeris smiling weakly to him, "it's late, Sephiroth. If you're as drained as this, we should rest for the night."
It made no sense! Nothing that girl did made sense!
"We should at least find shelter for the wind," Sephiroth found himself mumbling, letting her help him up on his feet again.
Swaying as he found his balance, Sephiroth saw something new in the girl's eyes. Determination. Like she had set her mind to something.
Frowning, he took a gentle, but firm, hold of her chin, "what's going on inside that head of yours now? More chocobos to rescue?"
Aeris awarded him with a smile, "no... this time I intend to rescue someone even more important, even if he doesn't value his own life."
With that she carefully began to make her way down to a ledge, "come on... or do you need a supporting hand? It's pretty steep here..."
Blinking, Sephiroth started back into life and shook his head. "No, uhm, that's... alright. I'm fine." He forced away the restlessness of mothers calling, his eyes locked on her slender form fighting her way down the hill.
She couldn't mean... him?
Forcing his body to move, Sephiroth followed her trail downwards, his mind in utter confusion. It did not make no sense what so ever!
She'd seen his cruelty, even felt it, and heard what he had done, still she wanted to try and save him in vain?!
A painful jab shot through him, and he knew she was the biggest threat to mothers plan. She was trying to trick him! Fool him into betraying mother!
Kill her!
The thought came from out of nowhere and he lost balance, falling rather abruptly on his behind as he clutched his aching head while shutting his eyes tight.
KILL HER!
Pain so strong it made him nauseous raged through him, making him convulse helplessly as he fought back the need to throw up.
KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!
The thought rammed into him again and again, like a tightly clutched fist repeatedly hitting a broken leg, and Sephiroth was one second from his break-down when gentle hands wrapped around him, and carefully pulled him close, making the storm inside his head quiet.
A soft humming was heard as he wearily rested his head against the warm form, absently listening to calming heartbeats as one hand stroke over his hair reassuringly while the other held him protectively.
He was so tired...
AN:
Took some time to finish this one, and it turned out a little more dramatic than what I had planned...
Still, I could never have managed this without all you wonderful reviewers! Thanks for every word you've written, and I treasure every one! You're my inspiration!