Author Note: Here we go again! Another week another chapter and I have been writing like mad to get more and more done. Hope you all enjoy!

Marken: I always hated that people made Gen a super snob. He and Angeal wouldn't be friends if he was like that all the time. I'm glad you like my writing style for fights and training, I try my best to translate the things I see in my mind to text and that is extra hard with fights

I do not own FF7 or any of its characters. Talin, Unit 28, and some other side characters are mine.

Chapter Warning: Mildly graphic depiction of injury (only mild)

Chapter 22

By end of the week, Talin had recovered from his exhausting Materia training and was impatiently waiting for Sunday to come. They would be leaving early that morning and not return till afternoon on Tuesday followed by a few days R'n'R. He was looking forward to it and so was the rest of U28. Those couple of days off were the regular reward for anyone coming back from a mission and were eagerly anticipated by the cadets especially since they were excused from classes as well.

Being their first mission, several of the Unit were a bit on edge including Talin. He had drilled them on their teams and rotation schedule a few times, reminded them to pack things that were often forgotten like phone cables, and answered any questions that came up as best he could. By the end of the week, those that had been worrying were calmer but now jittery with excitement.

The day before they were scheduled to leave, Sephiroth arranged for a short training session. Nothing that would overtax the teen or use too much Mako but enough to help an anxious Cadet sleep well.

Genesis, Angeal and Zack were sitting to one side of the big training room, watching Sephiroth chase Talin round the room with a basic issue sword. Quietly, the three were placing bets on if Talin would get out of the match without bruises.

Talin skipped left to avoid the slash of Sephiroth's sword and rounds to swing out with a blade but hits air. The SOLDIER had already moved out of striking range and then quickly stepped back inside Talin's guard, aiming for his chest. The clash of steal rings out as the sword is caught by Talin's cross guards, disabling it and then twisting it enough that, if the General had been a regular fighter, it would have been pulled from his grasp.

Sephiroth nods his approval and steps back, bringing the round to an end, but has a calculating look in his eye. "Angeal, catch," He says, throwing the blade to the other 1st. Angeal catches the blade easily but is confused at the sudden end to the fight.

"We're not done yet, are we?" Talin is confused as he watches the man walk away from him for several yards before he turned back.

"No, I just think you need more of a challenge than that little sword." He pauses, raising one hand out at shoulder height. "I remember seeing the look on your face when Genesis, Angeal and I were sparing together. You wanted to join in but there was hesitation and I have a suspicion why." A burning green flame crawls from his outstretched hand, slowly taking an unmistakable shape. Masamune solidifies in his General's hand and Talin's breath catches in his lungs.

His palms became damp and the hairs on his neck stood in primal warning. As amazing and beautiful as the sword was, the thought of facing it made him shiver. No matter how many times he reminded himself that he should fear the wielder not the weapon, he just couldn't get past the irrational stab of panic. He could watch Sephiroth practice with the blade for hours, but the moment it was turned on him, he wanted to run. The same instincts that were screaming to flee, now rooted him in place. There was no running this time.

"Seph. You can't be serious?!" Angeal spoke for all of them as they shook their heads in disbelief. "You'll go through his swords like butter."

"I won't be using my full strength and the sword's enhancements were removed yesterday to clean it so this is the perfect time." All the while he hadn't broken eye contact with his spooked Cadet.

In the past, he had seen the cautious way Talin had always watched him spar and practice with the legendary weapon. The teen always seemed in awe till he came too close, then that awe morphed into a barely controlled fear. Several times, Sephiroth had intentionally swung the sword near Talin as he watched and every time, the boy had the same response. Fear was normal, phobia was unhealthy and it was time for Talin to work past this one. He needed to if he ever wanted to join in their fights.

Crystal green eyes were locked with jade ones in silent communication. One full of dread and asking not to be forced to do this and the other calmly insisting on it. Talin felt a tremor through his spine as he nodded the barest fraction, giving his consent to the match even though he knew he couldn't decline.

Like lightning, they were off. Talin in full defense mode and Sephiroth coming at him like a hurricane. Sparks flew as Talin's little blades blocked and scraped against Masamune. Every blow rang loud in his ears and jolted his arms causing him to have to bolster his strength with some Mako. The blade was also so long that he had to change how he blocked or end up catching the sword too low and get cut by it.

Sephiroth could see the haze of fear in the teen's eyes and was frustrated. He hadn't been sure how to break Talin out of such a state till he'd heard Genesis the other day. If 'riling up' his Cadet could snap him out of his fear, then he knew just the thing to push that button. Sephiroth was done with the warm up.

Slashing downward he forced Talin to scissor his blades to catch his swing.

"Come now, Talin, is this all you can do? Run?" The General kicked out and knocked Talin back several feet before lunging at him again. "Stop running and fight me!" He growled and charged forward colliding in another burst of sparks. Talin's eyes showed his shock at the demand but less fear. He just needed a little more. Their eyes again locked past their swords and he delivered his ultimatum.

"Fight me, Cadet, or I'll pull your unit from the mission tomorrow." Shock turned to fury in the teen's eyes and Sephiroth knew he'd found the right motivation.

The sting of that threat turned to burning indignation but Talin refused to let it cloud his judgement. Instead he used it. Fighting for others would always be easier than fighting his own demons and he wouldn't let all their hard work be for nothing.

The kick came from nowhere, taking the General's leg from under him as Talin rolled to the side and sprung back up at the man like a coiled snake. The 1st caught the double-bladed attack against his sword and shoved away tossing the boy backwards. He landed on his feet, skidding to a halt and resuming his ready posture.

They circled each other, "Finally, I get to see the fighter Genesis keeps telling us about. Truly, Talin, you shouldn't keep such things from your mentor." The light tease was ignored in favor of watching for the first telling movement of an attack. Talin refused to let others be punished for his problems. If the General wanted a fight then he would get one.

The match was vicious. Each pushing any advantage and refusing to pass up a chance to score a hit. Talin using small amounts of Mako strategically, Sephiroth matching intensity blow by blow. It was the first time that their match didn't revolve around a lesson or end when Talin landed a small cut on his General's wrist. It didn't take long for the Cadet to gain have a few slashes in his clothing as well, but it was replaceable.

By the time Talin was able to land another thin slice to Sephiroth's coat, several inches above the first, he found he was more in control of his fear. The threat to his Unit still felt unfair but he understood that the push had been needed. His anger had cooled rapidly and now he found himself actually enjoying the technical challenge of fighting against such an unusual weapon.

As they attacked and parried away from one another, Talin realized that he was starting to tire out. The small pulls of Mako wasn't truly draining, and the fight wasn't as taxing as it could have been, but he had been anxious for days about their upcoming mission and it was catching up to him.

Not wanting to end the fight, he sprinted in for a final attack and was met with an equally powerful charge. In a flash of sharp steel and the shriek of grinding metal, they collided. The impact sent tremors up each arm and, in that instant, Talin lost his grip on his left blade and it flew from his hand.

Talin couldn't help his grin as he held the block with his one remaining blade, but the eyes looking back at him no longer spoke of enjoyment of the fight, but panic. He was confused more when Sephiroth pulled back and Masamune disappeared in the same green flames.

Loss of the distraction their fight had been, Talin felt his legs abruptly buckle and a gasp was torn from his lungs while a disorienting chill ran painfully down his spine. Before he could stumble, he was caught by the silver SOLDIER and quickly lowered to the ground. As he went, Talin finally saw what had happened.

His amazing little butterfly blade had spun when knocked from his grip, spun and cut deep into the top of his shoulder and collar bone. The impact had been so quick, the blade so sharp, that he hadn't even felt it at first. Now pain lanced out from the imbedded metal, shooting across his chest and throbbing in time with his increasing heartbeat.

Fighting to catch his breath he could only stare as blood flowed slowly from the wound. Its progress was slowed because the blade was so tightly wedged but he knew it would flow like water when it was pulled free. Zack had run as soon as he saw what happened and was above him holding his face telling him to look at him.

"Just keep your eyes on me, Red. You'll be fine." As Talin was laid half on Zack's lap so the blade wouldn't scrape the floor, he had another shock. He couldn't feel his arm.

The lack of pain, the numb nothingness beyond jolts of pain from around the injury... Zack's hands prevented him from looking over at the blade or anything beyond it and he grasped at the man's arm with his functioning right hand.

"Zack, my arm... I can't feel it... Is it..."? The buzz of Genesis running for medical supplies and a Cura, Sephiroth talking with Angeal about what to do and the panicked flutter of his heart was all he could hear till the raven-haired man spoke. "Yes, you do...the wound is deep so...so..."

"You got yourself deeply, Talin," Angeal picked up when Zack didn't know what else to say. Talin could just see him beyond the hands covering the wound from his view. "It's possible that you hit something major but we won't know till we can get a better look at the damage." Just then, Genesis came rushing back with a medical kit.

"Here, 'Geal. Should I use the Cura first?" Angeal shook his head. "No, we need to see how deep it is. Seph, use these and help me cut the shirt off." He threw a knife at the man who caught it and took hold of the shirts hem. Talin's good hand flew to Sephiroth's stopping the first slice of fabric, he tried to shake his head but the pain it caused cut the motion short.

"Talin, we need to see the wound. I'll buy you a new shirt," His Mentor's voice was stern as Talin tried to come up with some excuse and failed. In defeat, the Cadet's hand fell to his side and, with some pain, turned to bury his head in Zack's side as the sound of ripping fabric gave way to silence. Angeal kept working, evaluating the injury, but Zack and Sephiroth exchange a silent look before returning their attention to the wounded Cadet.

When a cautious hand threaded through Talin's hair, he let his head be pulled gently from the 1st's side. "Red? Are all these from when you were a hunter?" Zack's question was quiet and Talin just nodded as best he could.

The General read embarrassment in the teen's expression. He could understand some shyness regarding the number of scars for such a young fighter, but it was the accompanying emotion that caused him concern. Shame. With another glance at the numerous scars littering Talin's visible skin, he caught what he missed before.

"Not all of these look like monster wounds," Sephiroth murmured, glad to offer a distraction from Angeal's prodding but seeing a flinch that had nothing to do with the sword in his shoulder.

Talin didn't lift his head as he responded, his eyes slightly glazed from the pain and memory, "I never said they were all from monsters." Sephiroth knew better than most that, sometimes, man was worse than any monster, and the more than a dozen scars across Talin's upper body proved it.

Of that dozen, several looked like they were from a blade of one kind or another and several more were obviously from bullets. The remaining handful of old marks were indicative of monster's claws or jaws. The General's mind zipped from one thought to another, none of them lessened his initial ire but he held his irritation in check for now. It wasn't the time nor place to figure out the how and why.

As the silver 1st was considering several lines of questioning for future, Angeal and Genesis had been working as gently as possible to determine how much damage had been done. The answer was a lot. A major section of nerves had been severed, causing the alarming numbness in Talin's arm. The only good thing was that the damage was also preventing the Cadet from feeling the worst of the pain.

Angeal's light nudge of Zack's knee caught the younger SOLDIER's attention, giving him and Sephiroth a silent warning of what was to come. Just as the two secure solid holds on Talin, Angeal dislodges the blade and applies pressure to the large gash. Genesis was ready with a Cura but as fast as he casts it, the pain is faster.

Feeling as if struck by high voltage lightning, Talin screams and writhes as the spell works to repair the deeper damage. Bone, nerves, and deep tissue knit back together but by the time the healing glow fades there is still a long open cut that will need stitching.

"I don't have any more 'Geal. Was it enough?" Genesis was doing his best to remain calm but he was also ready to break into Hojo's lab for another Cura if needed.

Almost unconscious from pain and shock, Talin flinches at the prickling feeling in his palm and then again when something tickles the back of his arm. Angeal's sigh of relief reassured all.

"It was, Gen. I'll have to stitch the rest of this but he'll be fine." The words were the last that Talin heard before he started to dip in and out of awareness. Several times he 'woke' to the sting of stitches being closed. Then it was to the soft pressure of bandages being wrapped around him. Again, when Angeal asked him to make a fist with his left hand. He could just close his fingers around the SOLDEIR's wrist but his grip was weak and hurt like a mother.

A quiet argument ensued about where to take him and another about how to get him there. The bickering resolved when the General took charge, determining that they would go to his apartment since it was closest. As to how to get Talin there, the teen suddenly found himself lifted effortlessly in a position that didn't strain his shoulder and carried swiftly from the training room.

Once in the apartment, Sephiroth settled on the couch, Talin held gently but securely against him. Quietly he gave orders for ice, pain medicine, and several other items to be collected. It was the first time the Cadet had heard the man's 'General' tone and he could easily understand why he was revered and respected in Shin-Ra.

The adrenaline that had prevented some of the trauma being felt started to ebbed away slowly and Talin found himself fighting the building pain. Focusing on his breathing, he tried to distract himself from the burning, stinging feeling but was failing.

The warmth of a large hand around his good wrist had him cracking his eyes open and he watched as his General's thumb started to massage his pulse point. "Breathe, Talin." The words were spoken softly at his ear, "In..." the thumb moved up, away from his hand, "and out..." it moved back towards his palm. The pattern repeated and, as Talin found himself following it, the pain was easier to ignore.

He took the pain medicine he was offered and held still as an ice pack was placed near, not on, the wound to help with the swelling all the while continuing to breathe following the same pattern. Almost an hour had passes since he had been hurt when Angeal checked under the bandages.

"The lingering effects of the Cura helped a good bit and it is healing nicely. However, it won't be healed by tomorrow for your mission..."

"The mission!" Talin almost jumps to his feet, prevented only by the arm around his waist. "I have to go! I'm the Unit Lead... they're counting on me!" His look of frustration and determination was waved off by the Commander.

"Don't look at me, I can't make that call. Only your Mentor can make that kind of decision." Talin was ready to beg but is answered before he turned to ask.

"I will allow you to go, on one condition," Sephiroth carefully helped Talin move to sit facing him on the couch before continuing. "You will be in a commanding role only. If you do have to take part in any fighting, you'll explain in detail to me your reasoning when you return. Understood?"

Talin agreed immediately, he wouldn't abandon his guys on their first mission together. It would mean that he would have to rely on them even more but he knew they were up to that challenge.

Several times Angeal came over to check under the bandages while they spent the rest of the time in the apartment. The concerned 1st even promised to check the stitches in the morning for him before he left. Talin could have laughed at how smothering the Commander was but politely didn't. It was as endearing as it was irritating.

Eventually they ordered food so Talin wouldn't have to go down to the cafeteria and it was as the others were dishing up in the kitchen that Sephiroth gave into curiosity.

"So tell me, how is it that a Hunter ends up with bullet scars?" Talin stiffens a bit at the question but his hesitation this time is only to collect his thoughts.

"Most of them are from monsters, my upper body just happens to have more non-creature injuries than the rest of me. The cuts and bullet scars are from the few encounters with people who I was sent to... 'remove' from the town and outlying areas." He paused when he saw the flicker of anger in his General's eyes and tried to explain, "They were always people who had been causing problems, drifters or those who had broken laws..."

"So they sent a child to deal with armed adults?" The coldness of the question made Talin flinch but, knowing the General's ire wasn't aimed at him, he continued.

"I was fourteen before I was sent on that kind of hunt. I guess I could be considered a child still but I was already well trained at that point..." His words drifted off as he realized who he was defending. They didn't deserve his protection.

Hearing Talin, even unintentionally, defend the people of his town cemented Sephiroth's dislike of them. Some of the worst abusers were often defended by their victims. Taking a calming breath, "Regardless, you should never have been put to such a task." He wanted to say more but the others came into the living room just then with dinner.

As they ate, Talin found himself asked several questions from the others about his scars. Zack was the most curious about one that ran from just above his tailbone to the right side of his ribcage so he indulged their questions with the stories behind each mar. Thankfully, they didn't ask about the man-made ones.

Some of the stories were amusing, like the time he had found a baby needle kiss who had tried to imprint on him. It had left the four small scars near his hip when he had carried it back to a nest, cooing all the way. The more harrowing ones made for great telling but didn't always have a happy ending like with the baby bird. His scars weren't his favorite subject to talk about, but it was easier with these four.

His Unit had seen them since they had communal bathing rooms, but most times he showered before or well after others to avoid questions. Cal had finally asked him quietly one night as they were studying. Talin had told him the truth, but his friend had no doubt picked up on his tone or look since he didn't ask for more details. From Callian, Talin was sure that news had spread to the others not to ask.

Several stories from Genesis and Zack followed Talin's and soon it was close to curfew. With only a little help, he managed to shrug into a spare tank top and Angeal checked the stitches... again. His blades had been cleaned and replaced in the cross halter. Talin made a quick mental note to swap them out into the low back one before bed. It would be impossible for him to draw from the shoulder as he was so he would only need to be able to pull one. If he needed to fight at all.

Unexpectedly, when he leaves Sephiroth follows him out to the elevators.

"I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard today..." Talin didn't know where he got the courage, but he cut off the apology.

"Don't. It was my fault. I lost my grip because I was tired and I shouldn't have made that last charge." As he looked back up to his mentor, his eyes shifted from frustrated to laughing. "Besides, I'm not afraid of Masamune anymore," He said with a small grin. Sephiroth couldn't help a small chuckle.

"Good. I want you to join our sparing session sometime soon, Cadet. Fear should never stop you from enjoying yourself." There was a lack of emotion to those final words. Talin knew that only happened when the General was suppressing another but he couldn't decipher it before the elevator arrived.

"I'll see you in the morning before you leave, Talin." The man said, the small smile back on his lips. Talin could only nod and say a quick, "Till morning." before the doors closed.

Alone with his thoughts, Talin tried to puzzle out what emotion his General had been concealing. He said he wanted them all to spar together... It couldn't be anger or displeasure and he couldn't imagine why Sephiroth would hide if he was happy about the idea... Giving up, he headed out to his barrack and the onslaught of concern that he knew waited.

As expected, several were worried about him going on the mission but said nothing more when he told them about Sephiroth's restrictions for him. What was really surprising was the attention that Peirce gave to his injury. Almost before he could finish explaining what had happened, the copper haired boy had ordered Talin to go shower and to come back to him as soon as he was done. The younger Cadet had apparently received a good amount of medical training in his home town in the Mideel area and Talin was doubly glad to have him in their unit and in his own team for the mission.

After showering, Pierce checked the long line of stitches, with a few people looking on at the severely injured shoulder, before rewrapping it in clean bandages. Finally allowed to make his way to his bed, Talin took a moment to swap his blades into the low back sheath and checking his bag for morning one last time.

Extra clothes, toiletries, the hair ties from Genesis, phone cord, and a small pouch of supplies to clean his blades were all accounted for. The mission was only supposed to be a few days so anything more would be a waste of weight. Setting his alarm, he gave the ten minute warning for lights out and rolled carefully into his blankets.

Finally, his body was allowed to shut down after the rollercoaster he had been on and rapidly Talin felt himself losing focus on the chatter around him. His shoulder throbbed with every heartbeat and he gladly let the steady rhythm pull him into sleep. Lights clicked off in the U-28 barracks just as a muffled ping sounded on Talin's phone but he was already deeply asleep.

SMS Message from: Zack

Zack: Sleep well Red. See you in the morning. 💗