I've been getting so much love for this story lately and I am once again giving all my gratitude to you all. It's so heartwarming and has been giving me motivation to keep going. I'm going to do just a couple of responses to reviewers and then we can move onto the story once more!
iHateFridays and Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967, I always love seeing your names show up when you leave reviews. Even if they are really simple and just saying you loved the chapter, I see you! Thank you so much for sticking around like you guys have!
awayhere: Welcome back! I'm glad you decided to pick up reading this rewrite! I did tweak Cloud and Senna's ages, but I didn't really call attention to it at all except for when Senna was drunk and Zack brought up her being underage. So in Crisis Core, Cloud is around 14 or 15 years old at the start of it and by the end of it he's in his early 20s. Seeing the violence and trauma that Final Fantasy characters go through, I wasn't comfortable writing a preteen going through all that, so in my Crisis Core universe, Cloud and Senna are 17 years old. Still very young, but closer to adult age and the 6 year time lapse is gonna shorten up just a smidge. Thanks for your review!
Chapter 14: Deal With the Devil
"I can sense your fear, girl." The Mare smiled wider, a red pointed tongue licked across her lips, "There's no need to put on a show."
I said nothing in return. Taking a note from Sephiroth's book, I maintained my composure, not letting an ounce of emotion cross my eyes. I am not afraid. I am SOLDIER 2nd Class. I am not afraid. I thought over and over until I could condition myself to believe it.
The Mare slightly cocked her head to the side, like a fox listening for prey under the ground. Every movement she made resembled a predator. Purely primal, and intimidating.
I am not afraid.
"Hmm. How interesting to see you wearing that famous cold stare that SOLDIER is known for. Though I must say," She took a careful step out of my mirror, leaving no reflection behind her. Not even my own. "Your mentor wears that look a lot better than you do."
She chuckled for a moment and tapped her forehead, "Oh! Silly me, he's not your mentor anymore. Is he?"
"Are you going to just stand there mocking me, or are we going to talk like civilized beings? If you can even be considered one." I said in a cold, flat tone, "If you want me to help you, getting on my bad side isn't the best move."
"Ohh, I'm so scared." She hissed, inching closer and closer to me.
I am not afraid.
"You're tied to my life force, right?" I challenged, daring to take a step closer to her. The Mare faltered her next step, her devious smirk falling just a hair, "In all reality, you can't hurt me without hurting yourself, so this intimidation tactic you got going on isn't all that intimidating anymore."
Her eye twitched and she crossed her arms over her chest, all amusement faded from her features, "Ok, girl, you got me. Do you have a plan to separate us?"
"I have questions before I decide to go down that rabbit hole." Not that I wanted to remain attached to her for any longer than what I already was. The Mare remained silent, waiting for me to continue. "Are my thoughts and actions my own? Can you hear what I think, or take over my body at any given time?"
"Your thoughts are yours. I may be bound to you, but I can't read your mind. Your emotions though.." She licked her lips like a delicious meal was placed in front of her, "I can sense your emotions at any time. It's my gift whether I was bound to you or not. Like when you're around that boy with the blonde hair-"
"What about my actions?" I interrupted before she went on about Cloud.
"Your body is your own, mostly." She shrugged, "I can't take over your body, voice, or thoughts. With the way I'm bound, I'm merely a spectator through your eyes."
That answered my next question about if she could see everything I could.
"Can anyone else see you when you're… like this?" I gestured to her standing in front of me. She pondered for a moment, putting a clawed finger to her chin.
"I'm not sure." She said, "It's been a long time since I've possessed a body."
Body. Not even a person, just a body. Shivers went down my spine, and at the same time she smiled wickedly at me.
"Oh, did that make you uncomfortable?" She laughed.
I took a calming breath through my nose.
"If I help you, what do you plan on doing once you are free of my life force?" I asked calmly.
"I have plans for all those involved with putting me in this predicament, plans that might benefit you as well. I'll spare you the details, but they will be gruesome."
Plans to kill people, no doubt. I thought back to my sleep paralysis dream, she had mentioned Noctis. That it was his fault she had to seek refuge in my body to begin with, and once she got out he would be the first that she went after. Many things from that morning were still fuzzy, but that detail I remembered vividly.
"I'll make a deal with you. I'll help you get free, but in return you have to agree to do no harm to any living being in Midgar." I said.
The Mare looked taken aback by my offer, like she didn't expect me to give her an ultimatum. Truth be told, I surprised myself with this bargain.
"If I refuse?" She asked slowly.
Finding some strength within myself, I stood tall and shrugged my shoulders like I didn't have a care in the world.
"Then I guess you're stuck with me until I die. Sucks to be you."
A growl came from her like none I had ever heard. It was low and deep. Fury blazed through her golden eyes as she stared me down like a predator to prey. My stance didn't falter as I stared back at her without an ounce of fear. It was my way, or no way. If I had to suffer the rest of my life with her tormenting me with nightmares and appearing on my chest while I slept, then I would, if only to keep people safe from her wrath.
"Fine, girl." She said sharply through gritted teeth, "I'll take your deal. Once I'm free, no harm will come to any living being in Midgar."
Content with her answer, I held my hand out to seal our deal, and said nothing more. She stared curiously at my fingers before looking back.
"Are you certain this is the deal you want to strike with me?" She snickered, "I could give you so much more. Power. Beauty. Immortality. There's no turning back after this."
I said nothing. Just kept my hand held out. The Mare waited a moment longer, probably thinking I will change my mind, before sighing in disappointment.
"Have it your way." She said and grabbed my hand.
A jolt of electricity shot through my arm and everything turned white. Sounds and images flashed through my mind at a dizzying speed. I pulled out of her grip and fell flat on my ass.
"What was that?!" I yelled.
She only smiled and stepped back into the mirror. Her image disappeared, replaced by my shocked reflection sitting on the floor.
A peek of why you'll regret this bargain.
Gray clouds passed by the window in a blurr. The cab of the helicopter shook with the turbulence caused by the strong mountain winds. The mission was going to be a simple one, but Cloud couldn't stop the nerves that shook his stomach. Senna sat across from him, the perfect picture of calm. Her eyes were closed, and her arms crossed. She almost looked like she could have been asleep. He couldn't help but stare at her and notice the way her hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyebrows occasionally twitching with the rocking of the helicopter. SOLDIER Senna was wildly different from the Senna he'd come to know over the past months. How she was able to flip that switch so flawlessly, he wished he knew.
Next to him, another infantryman nudged his arm with his elbow and gestured to Senna.
"Think she's asleep?" He asked.
"Nah. Just concentrating." Cloud replied without taking his gaze away.
"How can you tell?"
Cloud knew that this man was a fairly new recruit, so he hadn't been around long enough to hear the rumors that frequented the Security Department's training facility, that Cloud and Noctis were attempting to sleep their way into SOLDIER, and Senna was their ticket in. As if it could work that way. The three of them couldn't possibly just be friends, even if Cloud wanted more than just her friendship. With the stress she had obviously been under lately, he didn't want to push her into something else. It was a struggle to contain himself most days from reaching out to hold her hand, or try to kiss her again since his first attempt didn't go as planned.
"I've worked with her before." He answered.
"Oh." was the only reply. The rest of the ride was silent.
The helicopter landed with a thud on the snow covered ground. Senna wasted no time opening the doors and stepping out into the cold, her hand firmly grasping the handle of her sword. Cloud and the other infantryman took a moment to unboard and grab their guns. After a quick look over of their gear, Cloud slammed the door shut and gave the pilot a thumbs up. He returned the gesture and took off to a safer location to wait for the signal that the mission was finished.
"Fall in." Senna ordered. The two men fell into step in front of her, backs straight, and their heads up to await her commands. "This mission is recon only. Intel says that Genesis copies have been spotted coming and going from the cave system in this mountain. We watch and listen. If I hear gunshots of any kind, you better have a blade to your throat. We don't want them to know we're here. Understood?"
"Understood." The two said in unison.
"Good. Keep low, stay silent, and keep your coms on. Head out."
The team of three split. Cloud took the east entrance, Senna to the west, and the newer infantryman took the north. Cloud felt a bit ashamed for never learning his name yet, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it. He obeyed the orders given to him, staying low and keeping a watchful eye of his surroundings. The air in the cave was dry and musty, like a house that had been sitting abandoned for decades. Sunlight peeked through random rifts, giving just enough light to see without a flashlight.
"Com check. S1 clear, moving to the south caverns." Senna's voice came quietly through his ear piece.
"S3 clear. No signs of life here."
Cloud put his hand to his ear to report in, when a shadow passed by an opening down the path. He hesitated answering, and looked down the scope of his gun. It was too dark and he was too far away to see anything. He advanced.
"S2, check in." Senna said after a moment of silence.
He couldn't. He was too close to the opening. One wrong step and he would alert whatever, or whoever, to his presence. It was too risky to answer her.
"S2?!" The worry present in her voice tugged at his chest and left him with a sense of guilt.
"Cloud!" Her voice broke when she spoke his name. He couldn't let her worry like this.
He pushed the button to his earpiece three times, sending waves of static over the com. An SOS signal that he might need back up.
"Shit." Senna swore. "S3, how far away are you from S2's position?"
"100 meters, give or take."
Senna's end stayed quiet, but Cloud knew she'd be cursing to herself about what to do.
"S3 make your way to S2, but stay hidden! S2, tap once if you're in immediate danger, once if you're hidden, but too close to relay properly."
Cloud pressed twice. Keeping his steps silent, he continued advancing forward. Another shadow passed by, then another, and another. The closer he got, the clearer they became. Definitely human, or… close enough to one.
"Copy S2. Back up is on the way."
Cloud crouched behind a large rock and rested his gun on it to get a better look through the scope. It was still too dark to tell for sure what was ahead of him, so he flicked on the night vision. The image was fuzzy with all the dust in the air, but in the cavern ahead stood four Genesis copies. They stood back to back, watching each corner of the cavern. It was unsettling watching how they moved and reacted to noises. Almost like a perfect AI mimicking a bird/human hybrid. They were human to the eye, but moved like birds. Stiff and highly alert. Cloud couldn't help but wonder if the men and women who deserted SOLDIER knew that this would be their fate. Were they 100% willing to give up their lives like this, or did they have to suffer before agreeing?
In one fluid motion, the copies turned their attention to the west, and took off after whatever they had heard, drawing their blades as they ran. Cloud waited a moment in case there were hidden copies somewhere else, then proceeded to follow after the group.
"S2 checking in. Four targets sighted heading towards the west entrance. Currently pursuing."
"S3 copies and confirms. Four copies ran by me, followed by three others. They're heading your way S1."
Senna didn't respond.
Cloud risked hurrying his pursuit. If they were heading to her as fast as they were, something happened. Steel crashing on steel echoed through the caverns in a disorienting pattern. They must have found her. Cloud broke into a run. Genesis copies blocked his path. He picked up his gun and fired immediately. The copies blocked every bullet and charged him. Acting fast, he reached into his pouch and pulled out two grenades. Pulling the pins with his teeth, he threw them ahead and fired his gun to keep the copies at a distance. The grenades exploded, shaking the cave walls furiously, and took out two of the copies. Five more charged him. He would have to reload his gun very soon. Each shot he fired, the copies blocked with little effort.
Out of ammo.
"Shit!" He cursed.
He tried to grab for his spare clip in one quick, flawless motion, but it caught on the loop of his belt, slipped from his hand, and fell to the ground. No time to pick it up. The copies were too fast. He could toss the rest of his grenades and fight, or run and hope to find someone to help him. Time's up. They're right on him. Before Cloud could reach into his bag, gunfire echoed through the cavern. Taken by surprise, three copies fell after getting shot in the back. Only two left.
Cloud took this opportunity to grab his fallen clip and reloaded his gun. He fired at the copies, his comrade firing from their right. Not knowing where to block, the copies split. One charged the other infantryman, and the other came for Cloud. The copy brough its blade down on Cloud, staggering when he blocked the attack with his gun. He attempted to sweep the copy's feet from under it, but it countered and hit Cloud square on the nose with the butt of its blade. He fell back and dropped his gun. Blood ran from his broken nose and dripped onto his shirt. The copy prepared the final blow. He held his arms up to brace himself when two shots fired through the air, and the copy fell to its knees. One last shot, and that was it.
"You ok, man?"
The other infantryman ran to Cloud and helped him to his feet.
"Yeah." he mumbled as he pinched his nose, "Thanks."
"Anytime. That SOLDIER girl is surrounded, she told me to come get you first, but I think she needs help." He said.
"Let's go." Cloud didn't hesitate and took off in her direction, followed closely by his comrade. "I never got your name. What was it?"
"It's Rune."
It didn't take them long to get to Senna, even if it did feel like ages. Rune wasn't lying, she was completely surrounded by Genesis copies, but she took them down easily. The one leading them though… the sight made Cloud's heart sink. Cherry red curls bobbed through the air, dodging every attack thrown by Senna.
"Oh no." Cloud said.
"Who's that?" Rune asked.
"Come on, we gotta help her!" Cloud ignored the question and charged the small army of copies. They weren't interested in him or Rune, even as they took them down with gunfire. The lack of attackers had given Senna more of an edge to get to Myrna, Cloud could only hope it would be enough.
Myrna taunted Senna as they fought, but he couldn't make out the words over the gunfire and ringing of their swords each time they clashed. Slowly, he and Rune had cleared away enough copies, the remaining few turned tail and ran. Only Myrna remained behind, continuing to laugh and taunt Senna every chance she got. Cloud took aim, the friend turned enemy in his crosshairs. He pulled the trigger.
Click.
"Dammit!" He fumbled in his pack. No extra ammo. "I'm out of ammo!" He shouted to Rune.
"Hang on! I got some!" Rune replied and grabbed for his extra clip.
The ground shook, Cloud turned his attention back to Senna and Myrna only to see a blinding cloud of rocks and dirt. Someone had landed hard.
"Come on!" He shouted to Rune, who was struggling to unhook his ammo.
The dust cleared enough for two figures to be seen. One was face down on the ground, the other standing tall and waiting. Myrna faced Senna, barely a hair out of place, and watched as Senna pulled herself to her knees. Dirt and blood coated her skin, and her uniform sported multiple rips and tares. She looked rough and beaten. Her breathing was ragged, and her limbs shook as she struggled to keep herself upright. She needed help now or else…
"Here!" Rune shouted and tossed Cloud the extra ammo.
"You're finished." Myrna said, and charged at a blinding speed to Senna.
The world moved in slow motion. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He saw the clip soaring through the air to him, saw Myrna rushing towards a badly injured Senna, saw the fear in her eyes as all she could do was just sit there and wait. There were two options. Catch the clip, reload his gun, aim, fire, and pray that he hit his mark. Or…
"What are you doing?!" Rune yelled.
The clip hit the ground, left behind and forgotten as Cloud ran towards the two SOLDIERs. Rune continued to yell concerns for him to stop, but it all fell on deaf ears. He could only see Senna, too exhausted to get up and defend herself, and the sharp tip of Myrna's blade aiming right for her throat. He heard his heavy breathing, his boots hitting the ground, and his heart still thundering in his chest. Move, move, move. Faster, faster, faster!
Time moved faster once more, too fast. Myrna was in front of him, her expression shocked, and angry. The barrel of his gun held up to her chest, unloaded, but she couldn't have known that. Right? Everything was still and silent. He looked back at Senna. Her eyes were wide with the same shocked expression Myrna wore. A shaky breath escaped her, blood dripped down her face and mixed with the tears that now shined in her eyes.
"Cloud…" she said through quivering lips.
That's when he noticed. There was no gash on her face for the blood to come from. It wasn't her blood. Then he felt it. Every breath moving his chest along the sharp edge of the blade, the blood that dripped from his mouth, and the copper taste between his teeth. He looked down at the sword that stuck through his chest, green liquid mixing with his blood running down it, dripping on the ground.
"What have you done?" Myrna hissed.
Cloud only smiled, and pulled the trigger.
Myrna swore and hastily pulled her sword from his chest to jump away from the fluke shot. The glare on her face when she figured out it was a trick could have killed. Cloud still stood, his empty gun still pointing towards her.
"This isn't over." she spat at Senna, and took off into the darkness.
The fight was over, for now. A wave of exhaustion washed over Cloud, his knees buckled beneath him, and he fell. He heard his gun hit the ground. Strange… he didn't remember letting it go. There was a warmth around him, but he felt so cold inside.
"Cloud? Cloud?!" Senna panicked and shook him.
He had fallen backwards onto her. She gently laid him on the ground, more tears streaming down her face. He could only stare at her as she fussed into her pouch and pulled out a green orb of materia. It glowed bright in her hands and he held it to his chest.
"Come on…" She said desperately, "Come on…"
The wound on his chest glowed with the materia, closing enough to no longer be fatal. Senna breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ok… Ok." She breathed, "You're gonna be ok. Just stay with me, Cloud."
"Senna." Cloud said weakly and reached up to touch her cheek, "I…"