The rubble of Shinra trucks was something Sephiroth was well accustomed to. He spent hours of his teenage years in the back of trucks like the one he found himself in now. The rookie that was accompanying them, clearly did not. Sephiroth's fellow SOLDIER, Zack, was rubbing the poor boy's back as he hung over the tailgate and took a deep breath. Sephiroth actually found the situation somewhat endearing, the little things really make all the difference when at war.
"Easy, cloud." Zack murmured to the blonde. "The medicine should kick in soon." Sephiroth couldn't help but smirk. Zack glanced back at him, doing a double take.
"I hope your ward has a stronger stomach on the battlefield." said the silver haired male. Cloud groaned and turned around and sat, tilting his head back. He was slender, almost effeminate. Sephiroth worried that stature wouldn't be able to hold up. Was this teenager really fit for SOLDIER? Even a third class had to be among the best that Shinra had to offer.
"I'll be fine." Cloud replied, clearing his throat. Maybe he would grow out of the motion sickness. He gave the two first class a shy, slanted kind of smile. He wasn't just wet around the ears, his earlobes were dripping with proverbial water. His cheeks had a pink tint from embarrassment as he pulled his rifle back into his lap, then his sword. Even if he didn't pass, having the opportunity to use a SOLDIER issue blade even once was a great honor. Zack opened his mouth to say something, but it would remain unsaid, as an explosion was heard extremely close.
"Garleans?" Zack asked, grabbing his Buster Sword. Sephiroth had already grabbed Masamune and jumped out of the back. He leapt again to avoid a spray of fire that shot toward him. The truck ahead of theirs was in flames, and looming over them on the right flank of the convoy was a creature twice the size of the truck, wings spread wide.
"Dragon!" Cloud yelled, aiming and firing his Shinra BM762 rifle in a short burst. The dragon took to flying overhead, circling back over the miles of flat grassland that made up Northern Midgar. Zack jumped out of the truck and put his sword in its harness. One look between him and Sephiroth was all it took. They took off toward the dragon. Zack pivoted and laced his fingers together. He jumped, then Sephiroth followed suit. The taller male leaned his foot forward, stepping into Zack's cupped hands. The brunette launched Sephiroth further into the air, and in two strikes he carved a gash into the membrane of each wing. As it plummeted, Cloud emptied his magazine into the creature, but the young Shinra operator was quickly learning that a standard firearm could only do so much against such a beast. Not all guns were useless, but Sephiroth never cared even for the ones that were tuned up enough to kill dragons. Said dragon landed and scrambled to its feet, Zack already back in pursuit and Sephiroth not too far behind. He could see the blonde drawing his sword and rolling to avoid the beast's fangs. When its claws swiped at him, the war hero was surprised to see that Cloud had managed to cut through its arm. Zack pounced, driving the Buster Sword into its back. The dragon rolled, forcing him to retrieve his weapon and leap off. Sephiroth pounced this time, and before Zack had even regained his footing, the silver haired SOLDIER had driven Masamune into the top of the dragon's head. The creature went limp, several feet of the blade had been driven into its skull. Cloud was gaping up at him, and Sephiroth couldn't help but smile. He pulled his sword free and flicked his wrist to fling some of the blood off.
"Are you alright?" he asked the blonde, before hopping off the dragon. Cloud's cheeks were tinted pink, and the look on his face just screamed "fanboy" to Sephiroth. The rookie nodded, then glanced over at Zack, who was waving from a few paces away.
"Aren't you worried about me too?" He joked, that big crooked grin on his face. He flashed some teeth as he approached, upon seeing Sephiroth's expression. The tallest of the three shook his head and adjusted his grip on the Masamune to hold it backhand.
"If I have to worry about fellow first class SOLDIERs then Shinra is getting sloppy, wouldn't you agree?" Sephiroth replied. Cloud flinched a bit when Zack put his elbow on the blonde's shoulder.
"That aside, how about Cloud? He didn't do too bad for his first time fighting a dragon." Said the brunette. Sephiroth brushed past them, heading back towards the truck.
"He's proved that he can handle himself, but he has yet to prove himself exceptional." Sephiroth said, sliding Musamune into the bed of the truck. "At the very least, I'm seeing why you've been doting on him. He'll need to show me he's capable of more before if he wants to prove he's cut out for SOLDIER." Cloud glanced at Zack, who patted his shoulder, before following Sephiroth into the truck. The silver haired swordsman sat and began to clean his sword. Finally, Cloud joined them, casting his rifle aside and examining the sword he had been given.
By sunset the caravan had reached its destination, Niblheim. Upon arrival, Sephiroth immediately suggested getting something to eat. When they sst down in the inn's tavern Zack was completely at ease, while Cloud was as stiff as he had ever been since the moment they sat at the table.
"At ease." Sephiroth said as their food was served. "We're off duty once we stop for the evening." Cloud nodded again, even smiling slightly. He had gotten a burger, while Sephiroth had a salad. Zack had gotten the biggest steak he possibly could. The thing probably cost at least thirty gil.
"So, you've been in SOLDIER since you were younger than me?" Cloud asked. Sephiroth chuckled.
"Yes, but I'm not even a decade older than you." Sephiroth replied. "I've been in SOLDIER since the age of fourteen." Zack made a noise, taking a big drink of water to help himself swallow.
"I've seen pictures, his hair was way shorter back then, he kinda looked like a girl." Said the brunette, grinning. He glanced over Sephiroth's long mane and cut another piece off his steak. "How in the hell do you manage that silver curtain?"
"Is it true that you use a whole bottle of shampoo and conditioner when you wash it?" Cloud asked. He seemed to have blurted it out.
"Who told you that?" Zack chuckled. Sephiroth tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow at the blonde.
"I was doing research after I was told I'd be going on an assignment with you and Zack. I ended up reading a few things on your fanclub's website." Cloud said, taking a bite of his burger, keeping his gaze on his food. Sephiroth swallowed, and pursed his lips, then schooling his features back into a neutral state so he didn't appear to be pouting.
"It only takes half a bottle." Sephiroth said, then took another bite. Zack snorted and started to laugh. He put an arm around Cloud's shoulders. The blonde chuckled, beginning to laugh softly as well. "I take it back, you're both still on duty, and at this rate I'll make you both do five hundred squats." The katana wielder said, unable to help the slight smirk on his face. Maybe this mission wouldn't be so bad, after all.