Author Note: I do hope you all made it through that last chapter ok. It was a tough one for me to write because of the emotion I push into scenes like that, but I think it was worth it. This chapter is one of my Beta readers' favorites so I hope you all enjoy it as much as they did. Additionally, we finally get to add the last of Shin-Ra's finest to the story! Genesis is by far one of my favorites to write for so I hope you all like his part here and in the future.
Marken: Rald does very much deserve some serious payback. I'm so glad you're hating him as much as I do. Thank you again for your praise. I love getting your review each week to hear feedback on what you like and (in Rald and Hojo's cases) hate.
Beta Readers: Pixie, Kiza, and Discord.
I do not own FF7 or any of its characters. Talin, Unit 28, and some other side characters are mine.
Chapter 13
Outside the floor to ceiling windows, the lights of Midgar shined and the massive Mako reactors cast a glow over the city. It was a sight that had often brought peace to Shin-Ra's General, but tonight he felt on edge. Several times, he paced from those windows to the couch and back again after checking on Talin.
The Cadet had been sleeping fitfully since Angeal left, tossing and turning till he finally seemed to relax and fall deeper asleep. By that point, Sephiroth decided to bring out some of the paperwork he had been ignoring and settled on the far end of the long couch.
Partway through the stack of mission briefings, he heard a small sound from Talin's pile of blankets. A pained inhale that turned into a whimper. Getting up to check on him Sephiroth saw, as he started to thrash at the blankets, trails of tears on the Cadet's face and heard a choked sob. It was as he pulled lightly on the blankets, thinking that he must be too warm, that he realized he should have been more careful.
An agonized scream tore through the silence and morphed into one of rage as Talin's eyes flew open and he lunged at the only living thing in the room.
There was pain in every beat of his heart and in every breath he took. So hot, burning hot, like the green flames that had engulfed him that day but it was under his skin this time too. A green haze was all Talin could see and the faint outline of a man standing over him as he opened his eyes.
Rald!
The scream born originally from pain became one fueled by fury and an all-consuming need for vengeance.
Realizing too late that he should have expected a violent reaction, Sephiroth tried to raise his hands to block the oncoming attack but they were tangled in the blanket. An ache registered on the side of his head, then jaw, then cheek before he was finally able to free his hands and catch the fists that had been pummeling him. Another scream, now wild and agitated, filled the air as the boy struggled to free his hands from the iron grip but it gained him nothing.
"Control yourself," A snarl of rage and an attempted kick to the privates was all that met the command. In a swift move, Sephiroth took the supporting leg out from under the Cadet, twisted and pinned him to the floor.
On his stomach with arms trapped behind his back, Talin's movements became more frantic and his wordless screams became shouts.
"NO! No! I won't!" Panic was replacing Mako fueled anger as he fought for freedom, but the boy's strength was depleting fast.
"Enough, Cadet!" Sephiroth tried again to break through whatever haze was clouding Talin's mind, whatever fever nightmare he was fighting. What he didn't expect was the panicked struggles to increase and the yelling to take on a tone of desperation.
"No, Rald! I didn't, I won't, I swear!" Talin was almost screaming again and when eyes of glowing green met Sephiroth's, all he could see was blind fear. That bone-deep terror pulled on the General's own hellish memories. People who ran at the very sight of him, warriors who fought him with such fear in their eyes, and the frozen faces of those who had died terrified of Shin-Ra's Silver Devil...
"Look at me, Talin! I'm not Rald. I don't know who you are talking about but he isn't here." Sephiroth spoke in a firm yet soft voice, "You're safe. He's not here..." He kept repeating over and over till the glow in Talin's eyes lessens. His struggles were weak by then and his voice rough from screaming.
"Look at me, Talin. I'm not him," He tried again and saw the hazed eyes look up and blink several times as they attempt to focus on his face.
"Sir?" The whisper is so quiet after the explosive outburst, meek, and almost pleading.
"That's right, it's me. You're safe." Sephiroth felt like he was talking to a child instead of a grown teenager but the fear he saw in Talin's eyes was that of a scared boy.
Voice almost completely gone, Talin could only just whisper 'I'm sorry' as exhaustion caught up with him. With extra caution, Sephiroth let up the pressure he was using to hold the Cadet down. Nothing. Too tired to even move and still feverish, he was gently picked up and placed back on the couch all the while whispering his apologies.
Angeal had told him to let it be, to give the kid space, but now there was no questioning that there would need to be a long conversation about this. His promise to his Commander had been that, so long as it didn't cause problems, he wouldn't ask more than what was needed about the boy's past. It was extremely obvious now that it was going to cause problems. That level of fear didn't come from an everyday event, it came from a life-changing one, the kind that tends to haunt and linger long into adult life if not addressed. He was a prime example.
If it hadn't been for Genesis and Angeal, Sephiroth was sure he would have walked a darker path by now. They had kept him together, kept him just on this side of the line. Then Zack had come bouncing into their group, refusing to be omitted from anything they did, and became a third pillar for him to rely on. How different things might have been without them...
Talin had no one. From what he could tell, the Cadet had entered Shin-Ra with only one friend, the person who had helped him join. No one else was ever mentioned. Till now...
Seeing that Talin was again sleeping deeply, Sephiroth returned to his paperwork. His questions could wait till tomorrow, but he would have answers.
Dim light and quiet music greeted Talin as he woke on a now-familiar couch. On his stomach, arms under pillow and head, he remained still, taking in his surroundings before cataloging his aches. Sorest were his shoulders but every joint gave a small twinge of pain as he shifted. The murmur of deep voices drew his attention to the kitchen and he blinked against the brighter lights as he rolled over. His movements drew the attention of both Commander and General who then came over to check on him.
"How're you feeling?" Angeal knelt down by his side and kept his voice soft, having been told about Talin's previous sensitive hearing.
"Like I spent a day out in the desert." It was the best description he could give. His skin was itchy with drying sweat and the light workout clothes he had worn for the procedure were sticking to him all over.
"What time is it?" His question was quiet due to a painful, scratchy feeling in his throat. He felt like he had gone a week without water.
"Almost six in the morning. I came over to make breakfast, would you like something to eat?" Talin nodded slowly, mindful of possible dizziness, and Angeal smiled before standing back up and moving into the kitchen. Sephiroth remained, looking down at him.
"Your fever broke about an hour ago, so you're past the worst of it. If you feel up to it, go shower, or you can wait till after breakfast." Talin would have run to the bathroom if his body would have allowed it. Instead, he carefully stood, with only a little wobble, and grabbed his bag of clothes before heading to the guest bathroom he'd used before.
"So, how's your face feel?" Angeal asked as he moved about the kitchen. He had decided to message earlier to see how the kid was doing and received only a 'He's fine'. After a little prodding, he'd learned that Talin had been having fever-induced nightmares and had an 'outburst' as Sephiroth had called it.
Angeal had come over not long after that and, seeing the other's bruised face, promised to make breakfast when the Cadet woke, to make up for not staying to help. The silver SOLDIER tried to refuse, but if Angeal had one flaw it was stubbornness.
The extreme amount of Mako in his body quickly healed the bruises on cheek and jaw but the punch that had landed on the side of his head, by the ear, was still tender.
"It'll heal."
"How hard did he hit you? Those looked like they hurt." Concern from any other person would have been annoying, but Angeal had always been one to fret over his friends.
"Far as I can tell, full force."
"Well, I guess it's a good thing that he holds back so much, then. If he did that much damage to you, I'd hate to see what would happen against another Cadet or a civilian." Having expected some kind of response, the Commander glances at Sephiroth when he remains silent. The look on his face is clouded when he finally responds.
"It's why he's here... to learn control."
By the time Talin joins them, his sensitivity to light and sound are almost gone but the headache is still pounding away. Breakfast was simple but good. Home-cooked would always be better than fast food or cafeteria reheated meals and he ate everything Angeal gave him. The two SOLDIERs spoke together about units that were deployed, upcoming meetings, and the common complaint about paperwork. Talin tuned it out as he ate, his thoughts far away in another kitchen that had smelled similarly like pancakes and cinnamon.
"...alin?"
"What?" He realized that he had zoned out too much and Angeal was looking at him questioningly.
"I asked if you wanted any more food?"
"No, I'm good. It was great, thank you." He felt dumb for losing track of his thoughts and quickly stood to take dishes to the sink.
"Do you cook?" Surprised at the question, Talin stumbles over his answer.
"No, I mean, yes, but I don't know a lot. I only learned simple things."
"Would you like me to teach you sometime? Cooking is a great life skill." Angeal's smile was warm as always and the Cadet responded without thinking.
"Sure, uh, I know you're usually busy, but if you're free sometime, I'd love to learn."
Once the dishes were cleaned up, Angeal excused himself. He and Zack were heading out of the city for the day for Materia training. While several rooms in the building were designed to withstand or negate the effects of weaker castings, they had to go out to the wastelands to practice stronger ones.
Talin thanked him again for breakfast and walked him to the apartment door with the General where they said goodbye. Before the teen could walk back to the living space, a hand landed on his shoulder and he was led out and across the hall to the training room.
Almost stumbling as he was propelled forward, he spun around and, out of instinct, caught the practice sword that was thrown at him. Mind processing what was happening faster than his eyes, he raises the sword just in time to defend against a ferocious attack. Swords locked together, at an awkward angle, Talin's conscious brain finally catches up and his eyes widen as they meet Sephiroth's.
"Now that I have your attention... Who's Rald?" Confusion bleeds into shock and panic just before they break apart and jump back a few feet.
"Just... someone from my old town..." Talin's hope that his half-truths will be enough dies a quick death as Sephiroth charges him again. This time his weapon is flung from his grasp, leaving him at the blade edge of the other's sword.
"Try again."
"My...Rald was my step-father." At that, Sephiroth pulls the weapon away and motions him to retrieve his own. Not 100% sure he likes where this is going, Talin keeps his eyes on the General while he picks it up. Sure enough, as soon as he had it firmly in his hand he was charged. Another quick block rattled his arm, but he didn't let go.
"What happened? What did he do to make you so afraid?" Anger burned in Talin's eyes and he pushed back on their locked swords, trying to get space.
"Nothing, I'm not afraid of him..." Suddenly shoved sideways, he ducks away and dodges the next few strikes.
"Wrong answer." Again, he is charged and his sword is jarred from his grasp, leaving him defenseless.
"You woke, terrified and screaming," Sprinting away while his mentor spoke, he scooped up his sword, turning just in time to block. "You said you wouldn't, begged him not to. Not to do what, Talin?" The defiant anger flared brightly and Talin took the offensive.
"I didn't beg! I never begged him!" Rage overtook the teen and his attacks became charged with Mako. Letting Talin waste energy, Sephiroth allowed himself to be driven back towards a wall before pivoting and slamming the Cadet against it. The scrape of steel rang between them and some of the previous panic returned to Talin's eyes at being trapped but then he growled out.
"Why do you care so much? Why's it matter?" A spin and kick to the stomach sent Talin sliding across the training room floor, gasping for breath as Sephiroth stalked over to him.
"It matters because I can't train someone who lets their past control them." Talin remained on the floor, clutching at his ribs trying to breathe, but was listening. "You fear losing control but, last night, your nightmare, it caused you to attack me at full strength. What would have happened had I been someone else? Someone from your Unit?" Lungs that had been burning for air froze solid.
"Now, no more lies, no more evasions. Tell me, or do you plan on ending your mentorship with me here and now?" The last of Talin's anger died at that quiet threat and he slowly stood on wobbly legs. Still not fully recovered from the chemical treatment and then forced to fight, he was exhausted.
Sephiroth could tell that he had won their little skirmish and didn't attack again. Instead, he held his ground as the Cadet sorted his thoughts.
"I was... 5 when I found the well, but I was almost 6 when I was dropped into it... by Rald..."
...
The words came out like he was reading a script instead of having lived the events. The voice that had called him, nearly falling into the well, Rald and his mother's marriage, then the terrifying drop into a lake of green. If Talin hadn't been saying 'I' or 'we' Sephiroth could have believed it all had happened to another person. That this boy had heard it as a story and nothing more.
It was only in the occasional glances as he spoke that the General saw the pain and fear from those moments. Trauma that would forever be burned into the boy's skin and mind, something that would always be a part of him. A small tremor had started in Talin's hand as he spoke of being dropped, and Sephiroth knew it was time to stop.
Talin was so caught in memories that he almost jumped away when a large hand came to rest gently on one shoulder. Looking up, he realized that, at some point, his General had come to stand next to him.
"We are what the past has made us... What we will be, is what we make ourselves," Sephiroth says quietly. "What Rald did to you made you who you are, but your choice to leave and become part of Shin-Ra is what will define your future. It's up to you now, Talin, to choose what you want to become." Talin had looked away but the tightening grip on his shoulder drew his attention back to his teacher.
"I understand that telling me this was difficult, but now that I know, we can work to overcome history." He let his hand fall from the teen's shoulder and went to replace his practice blade. "The past is always there, waiting for us to remember, it's how you deal with it that will define your future."
Following to store his own sword, he tried to consider what his mentor said, but his headache was back and his shoulder's sagged from exhaustion. Seeing his Cadet looking like he was about to fall over, Sephiroth decided to shelf the conversation for now.
"Go back to my apartment and get some more sleep. I have a few things to attend to and will check on you when I'm finished." Talin gave a quick nod and they parted ways in the hallway. Already half asleep when his head hit the couch, he gave in to sleep with only one more fleeting thought about their fight and conversation.
More cards were on the table, but his hand was still overflowing.
No dreams came to haunt him and Talin woke feeling infinitely better. Taking a moment to listen, he heard no sounds. Was Sephiroth not back yet? A look at the clock showed he had slept several hours and it was almost noon.
No dizziness greeted him as he stood, for which he was glad, and he tried to think what to do. His mentor had said he would come back after his errands so should he just stay here? The rest had restored him almost completely and he was itching to do something, anything other than just sit on the couch. A rumble of his stomach prompted him to head into the kitchen and pick out a piece of fruit that was leftover from breakfast. Unwilling to sit down again, he ate as he wandered the living room looking at all the collected items on the large shelves.
Small trinkets here and there caught his attention. A dagger that looked ceremonial and quite old, several small fossils, a scaled shard of eggshell, and a collection of small Materia along with so many other items that he couldn't quite figure out. Then there were the books.
One whole section of the shelf was protected by darkened glass doors and housed dozens of books that all appeared to be very old. Gazing through the glass, no way was he opening it without permission, he saw that several were in different languages. Of what he could understand he saw some works of fiction, historical non-fiction, poetry, even a few books of myths and legends all kept in excellent condition. Outside of that protective cabinet, the books were newer and ranged topics of science, strategy, world culture, geography, and studies on Materia and Mako. Some of the books were tempting, but he would wait and ask about borrowing them later.
After some time looking over the shelves, Talin found himself curious about the rest of the apartment. He really didn't want to invade anything private but... Deciding that looking wouldn't hurt, he made his way to the hallway at the back of the kitchen. The first door he knew led to the guest bathroom but the other three rooms were yet unexplored. Two of the doors were open and he gently nudged the first one open wider.
It was the General's home office. A large, heavy black desk cut a clean line across the window along with a chair designed to accommodate the General's tall build. A simple leather couch was against one wall and again there were shelves with collections of books and small curios. Everything was neat and organized and Talin quickly backed out of the room, pulling the door partway shut again. No need to look through more books and definitely no reason for a Cadet to be looking over possibly sensitive documents. Moving to the other open door, he almost expected a bedroom but found something far more interesting to him.
Every wall was adorned with carefully hung weapons. Swords to Materia gauntlets. Fighting knuckles to chain weapons. All were beautiful, unique items that had been crafted with attention to every tiny detail. Each had been placed under soft lights and were dust-free but one stood out. Masamune.
Almost alone on the largest wall, it was displayed without its sheath, the edge gleaming wicked sharp in the spotlights. This close, Talin was able to see the dancing wave of the sword's Hamon and followed it with his eyes the length of the blade. It really was beautiful.
His thoughts trailed back to the day he had watched Sephiroth practicing with it and his breath caught at the thought. His teacher had a fascinating bond with his chosen weapon. He had moved with a grace born from years of practice and knowledge of the sword that no other would ever gain while Sephiroth was its owner.
"Enjoying your look around?"
Talin about jumped out of his skin and turned to find the SOLDIER standing in the doorway. Before he could apologize, Sephiroth shook his head and simply waved off his explanation.
"If I hadn't wanted you someplace, I would have locked the door. As it is, I'm not surprised to find you here. Although the collection isn't to some people's tastes, I thought you might like it." Moving from the door, Sephiroth started a slow walk around the room, looking over several pieces before stopping before Masamune as well.
"You seem particularly interested in my partner..." Talin hesitated slightly before giving in to his curiosity.
"Not so much just the sword, but your ability with it." He turned back to look at the flawless edge and watched the reflection of his mentor in its polished metal. That small smile formed on the General's face as he too looked down at the blade.
"It comes with time and practice. Something that you will gain someday if you choose to specialize with something."
Again, Talin caved and simply asked what was on his mind.
"How long have you had it?"
"Nearly ten years now..." If Talin hadn't been watching the man's reflection, he would have missed the shift in expression from fondness, to troubled, and then to something like resignation. "I received Masamune in Wutai... during the war." With that, he turned and headed for the door. Following out of the room with only one fleeting glance back at the countless weapons, he wonders if he shouldn't have asked. It was almost one o'clock by then and Talin's stomach growls loudly, prompting a quiet chuckle.
"I guess that answers my next question. Come, I'll buy you lunch then I think it's best if you head back to your unit to get ready for classes tomorrow."
Down in the plaza of Shin-Ra tower, they had sat down at an outside café and were waiting for their order when the General spots a familiar red coat and auburn hair.
...
A month. An entire month out on a fool's mission with nothing to show for it but one ruined jacket and bug bites so bad that even the Mako in his system couldn't stop the itching. Needless to say, Commander Genesis Rhapsodos was not in the best of moods upon returning to Midgar but he would grin and bear it till he could retreat to his apartment and bathe for half the day.
The glint of silver-white hair caught his eye as he was swiftly moving towards the tower, and he slowed his step to look. Seph never eats in the plaza... Then his eyes shifted to the one sitting across the table. Genesis wasn't impressed.
Was this the Cadet that the other 1sts had been texting him about? The one that Sephiroth had actually thought worth the trouble of training personally? The bright red hair was interesting, but the boy had a common build, relaxed pose, and only a slightly interested look on his face while talking with Shin-Ra's illustrious General. The only really interesting thing was the blueish tone to the boy's arms. From some accident, Zack had said.
The more he looked the more agitated he became. Did everyone get drunk off Mako fumes while he was gone to pick such a student for Sephiroth? Deciding to vent his frustrations on an easy target, he approached and called out a greeting to the two. Eyes of bright jade green that held a glow of Mako, glinting with sharp intelligence locked with his and he about tripped.
No other had such eyes except... Genesis quickly reassessed the boy. Looking closer he saw that while relaxed, his feet were planted, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. His common-looking build was well-muscled in all the places used most commonly by a swordsman. And the interest he saw in those predatory eyes was hardly a fleeting thing. Genesis felt like he was being evaluated just as critically as he just evaluated the Cadet.
Then in a flash, the predator was gone, leaving a quiet and submissive look in that green gaze but the posture remained attentive, ready.
"Welcome home. Did your mission go well?" Sephiroth could tell that the red Commander was in a hell of a mood and tried to distract him away from what appeared to be his intended victim, Talin.
"No, it didn't, but I can tell you more later." Turning his attention back to the Cadet, he gave a smile that set off alarm bells in Talin's head. "You must be Cadet Graft. At least Zack and Angeal described your looks adequately. We will see if your talent lives up to their description as well."
A flash of anger broke past the teen's control and Genesis grinned wider. That's right, little Cadet, show me how to push your buttons.
"Would you care to join us for lunch, or were you heading up to relax?" Seeing that this could quickly get out of hand with Genesis' penchant for starting fights, Sephiroth was relieved when his answer was a quick negative.
"I need to get the grime of that blasted swamp off all my clothes and myself. I will join you tonight if you wish but for now, enjoy your lunch, General... Cadet." Eyes lingered a moment longer on the later of the two before the Commander turned and strode swiftly into the tower.
Pulling his phone from a pocket, Genesis shot a message to Angeal and Zack.
SMS Message to: Group AxGxZ
Genesis: I'm home, tired, dirty, and disappointed in both of you.
Zack: What? I get the first part but what did we do this time?
Genesis: You both got my hopes up for Seph's Cadet and now I wonder if he's worth the effort.
Angeal: Where did you meet him?
Genesis: The plaza, the two of them were getting lunch at that horrible café that Sephiroth likes.
Zack: So, you didn't get to see him fighting yet. Just wait. PS I like that place too so don't hate. 😛
Angeal: As Zack said, wait to pass judgment until you've had more than five minutes to evaluate him.
Genesis: As you command. Honestly 'Geal, you know I don't judge wholly on my first impressions.
Zack: No, you wait till you're mad about something to make judgments and then we all pay for it.
Genesis: Where are you, Zack?
Zack: My place. Why?
Genesis: You just volunteered to help me wash my clothes.
Zack: What? No!
Genesis: Be there or I wash all your workout tops with my floral soaps.
Zack: Fuck you, Gen.
Genesis: I love you too.
