Chapter 50. Lifestream.
Sephiroth's POV
I never imagined that being with Elie would be like this.
There was something way different about sex when feelings were implicated. To be completely honest with myself, I had never experienced something as gratifying and intense as… this.
I had woken up early, and couldn't sleep much after the sunrise. This place, this… Planet where Elie was from was nosy, besides all the foul features it had.
My eyes landed on the woman sleeping right next to me. Elie slept profoundly, I could sense the peace of her mind, the steadiness of her heartbeat.
Now that I had her close to me, right there, mine as I always wanted, I could see now how stupidly stubborn I had been. The flaws I had in communicating with her almost had destroyed us… but thankfully something inside me warned me that I had to do something fast or I would lose her permanently. I had learnt the lesson the hardest way.
I got up slowly, trying not to make any noise, my feet taking me to the bedroom's window.
The day was just beginning and I took my time watching the movement, how people acted, how the routines worked in this place.
It didn't take me much to realize it was fairly similar to the society's pattern in my Planet.
"Oh, you're there."
Elie's voice took me out of my day dreaming and I couldn't help but to smile at her worried tone.
"Where else could I be?" I said, slowly turning to face her. Her face was sleepy and she covered her body with the bed sheet, her eyes a little frightful.
"You could have fled." She said, half-smiling, and I sensed that was her real fear - that I would go away without a word, without saying a thing.
How insecure, Elie.
"I wouldn't do such a thing." I declared, hoping my tone would ease her fears. There was no need to feel like that, considering I had shown her pretty obviously she was the only one I wanted.
But she insisted.
"You look thoughtful, what is it?"
I paused for a while, considering what to say. It was a fact I had been busying my mind since I had been awake, but somehow I thought that maybe it was time to take some more chances - considering I had taken my chance last night and obviously succeeded so nicely.
"You once told me to enjoy my second chance at life."
Elie blinked at me as if recalling when she had said that, taking her time to answer me.
"I did… and I meant it."
Our stare locked and I knew I had to say what was going through my mind. Her eyes had made its way inside my me, her heartbeat peaking.
"Would you accept making me company in my second chance of life?"
Her eyebrows went up and her mouth half-opened… as if terribly surprised with my proposition.
"As in-"
"As in permanently."
I had to interrupt her and say how things were going to be. If she was to be mine, I obviously wanted her to be all mine. In every aspect.
"Elie?"
Her silence was starting to worry me.
"Y-yes, I…"
"Will you come back with me?" I eventually asked, and I couldn't see past her shock face. "Can you talk?"
Elie took her time gathering herself, and I approached her slowly. I sat right next to her by the bed and scrutinized her face.
"After all you did…" She eventually said, pausing to gather strength. "I shouldn't, you know…"
I took a deep breath, sensing her uneasiness. It was obvious she was having a will of fights right now - her rationality versus her feelings. How I understood her. I did that a lot lately.
"But?" I dared to ask, sensing her heart beating fast. Maybe I was being smug and overconfident, but the way she looked at me was all I needed to know she would accept. Her brown, shiny eyes, so transparent and king, perspired truly adoration.
For me only.
And that, strangely, made my chest constrict in the most amazing way possible.
"What I feel for you…" Elie paused, gulping dry. "I guess there's no other way around." She smiled, half-covering her face. "Of course I'll go with you. I'd go with you anywhere you asked me to."
Her sincerity made me feel extremely soft - the way her words made way inside my body, the effect they had… was dangerously overwhelming. It was like an immense wave of unexplained feelings overwhelmed a body that barely could stand it.
"That's my girl." I whispered, and my hand searched for her face. "Here."
I sat next to her, our skin touching again. We remained naked since last night and I honestly enjoyed the sensation - maybe a little bit too much. I held her, and Elie did the same, the soft edges of her fingers touching my thorax, her face resting beneath my chin. Her hair tickled me, and she smelled of me and that fruity shampoo she had used last night.
"Aren't you hungry?" She asked, and I snorted at such question.
"Always."
She giggled.
"I didn't mean…" She gulped, smiling nervously. "I mean real food."
Her stare met mine and in there I saw a genuine will of sharing. Elie was like this, a pure giver, a woman that wanted me to feel at home, at ease with her no matter the circumstances. I couldn't say no to her - how could I?
"Okay."
She smiled and left the bed, putting a pajama on. She looked at me and blinked, smiling one of those smiles of her.
"I'm going make you the best breakfast you've ever had."
I bit the inside of my mouth and laughed lustfully at her.
"You're setting the bar high, Elie." I whispered, as I left the bed as well. I took a couple of steps, naked, and had the honor of seeing her as she took me in. Her naivety felt extremely enticing. "But I'll let you know after the breakfast."
She smiled at me, taking a couple of steps back.
"We have a deal."
Cloud's POV.
Thanks to my connections, it had been easier to make my inside the building and cross the damn PORTAL thing.
I had been warned of the window of time available to do whatever I needed to do, under the penalty of being caught. Security was tight in this place - very tight indeed, but it wasn't flawless. After all, I was the General.
The crossing had been peaceful and once I got to the other side, it was night time - as expected.
First, the area looked like an abandoned building, a factory of some sort, deserted. I smiled to myself and focused - Mako's presence in this Planet was completely absent, so it would be easy to find Zack.
Mako felt like a hum; Like a grave, low hum inside me, drawing me in… it guided me, really. the first stop I made was next to a building.
How come Mako levels broadcasted from here? It felt rather strange - but the feeling wasn't exactly right. It was like… tainted, noisy.
The pure hum came from another place, and I basically followed my guts. My feet automatically took me to a place that was closed - named Cemetery. I had no idea what that place was, but it wasn't that ridiculous lock that stopped me.
It broke easily and I walked, surrounded with cross-shaped marbled stones, with names on it? The place disturbed me, and I had to admit it felt a little creepy in the dark… but eventually I stopped. Next to a plaque where that residual, kind of bothering hum came.
I examined the area, and easily I sensed that - whatever it was, it was buried deep. My eyes scanned the stone, where only read 'Z. F.'
The math was done quickly and I smiled with gratification.
"Found you, my friend."
So, I dug in deep for the following hour.
-/-
It was easy to find the wooden box. Easily, I broke it, the lid coming off flying and revealing to me a very dead Zack Fair.
I blinked at him, amazed at how conserved he was. It was like he was sleeping, about to wake up at any time. And I couldn't help but to notice he was dressed impeccably, with some sort of suit, so… neat and clean.
"Who did this to you, my friend?"
My words were whispers, as I inspected my friend. I untangled his hands and put my hand on his chest - only to sense something very, very disturbing.
There was a cut - a huge, humungous cut and a wound alongside Zack's chest, that had been obviously the cause of his death. It had been thoroughly aimed, smashing his heart on its way… the way only a very specific sword would do. A sword that only one person had.
Rage and revolt took hold on me for a moment, as logic pointed to the man I had worshipped all my life.
"How could Sephiroth kill you, Zack?"
The questions were made, but I knew the answers would not come. Only the calm and silence around us provided some comfort. So I, faced with such silence, decided it was time.
"Let's go home, my friend." I said, and put Zack on my shoulders, making my way back to the only place I had known as home.
John's POV.
I had woken up earlier today - it was nighttime yet, but an idea had assaulted me.
My projects had been shifting lately - from human and molecular genetics, I was now focusing on physics and devices that eventually would allow communication between both worlds.
Since I had visited Elie I had been researching in that direction and, mostly thanks to those dedicated scientists and engineers, we were getting to a functional prototype that sooner than later might be tested in all its glory. We were getting so close to make it work, despite all our failed attempts… but something was not right though, we were missing something.
The possibilities put a smile on my face. It was all so immense and the potential would be… endless. Who knew, if we got to fully understand the dynamics of the PORTAL… maybe, just maybe we could-
"That's it." I said, leaving the bed in haste. Ideas emerged just like that - when one least expected. "It's the interface. We're not getting it right."
I got dressed in a couple of minutes and went down to the garage for my car. The travel towards the building was fast, and I could see the brink of dawn approaching.
It would be daytime soon.
I parked, exiting the car and inserting my I.D. card plus my hand print to open the main door. The guard standing by the hall looked at me with a rather puzzled look.
"Good morning, officer."
"Uh… so early, Sir?"
I stopped next to elevator doors and eyed the man.
"Science has no schedules, officer." I declared, waiting for the door to open. "I'll be headed to the PORTAL chamber, would you be so kind to call in Physics early?"
The man paled as he heard my words.
"What?"
"N-Nothing, it's just-"
"Do it." I said, and walked inside the elevator, wondering why on Earth security would be behaving so strangely. They usually didn't question a thing and tended to behave very neutrally.
"Whatever…" I whispered, and shook my head as I refocused. I desperately needed to get to the PORTAL chamber and test my theory. If my thinking was right, I would solve the problem and was pretty sure the prototype would function. Right?
"Right, man." I said, as I exited the elevator door, discharging my stuff at the pre-chamber. My winter coat was off, landed on a chair and I put my white coat on, gloves and protecting glasses. It was time to make science and it made my heart beat faster.
I entered the chamber, allowing the door to open and close behind me, my eyes on the ground. In the white of the ground I saw something that made me stop.
Footprints.
"What the…"
I ducked, my fingers scanning the form of that long boot, easily recognizable as belonging to… SOLDIER.
A shiver ran through my body and I got up in a sudden move.
"Shit." I turned and closed the door, my finger hitting the intercom of the pre-chamber. "Security! I need security here right now-"
A soft blue glow stole my next words, and I couldn't do a thing but to stare at what came out of the PORTAL. Cloud, tired and bloodied, walked gloriously with a male form resting on his shoulder. It was a man, and dressed neatly, suit and all, black hair, so alike…
So alike someone that was dead, that Elie had buried weeks ago, so alike the only and one person that could not yet return to our world… for the Planet's sake, for our security and… sanity.
A cold shiver invaded me and I couldn't help but to bump, hitting the impossibly strong glass that made up the chamber, a feeble and futile attempt to warn Cloud of what he was doing.
"No! Stop!" I screamed. "Go back, you can't get him here, go back! GO BACK, CLOUD!"
My voice couldn't be louder, and I desperately opened the chamber and ran towards the man that now put Zack to rest on the ground.
"Get him back, Cloud!" I screamed, and Cloud eyed me angry.
"He belongs here."
"No, no, no you're not getting it, Zack is not who-"
"Whose side are you on, after all?" Cloud's threat made me stop a meter from them, and all I could do was to stare at the PORTAL and wonder… wonder if this was even going to end up okay, since I knew Sephiroth hadn't yet returned.
"It's not a question of taking a side, Cloud, it's a matter of-"
A soft green light interrupted us, and we both remained in silence as we witnessed how Zack's body returned, agonizingly slowly, to the Lifestream. And, with him… Jenova.
As I witnessed it, I felt despair, sadness and powerless to do a thing.
"My God." I whispered, as we sensed the air heavier, filling gradually with hate, power and… the overwhelming will of destruction. Cloud's stare met mine and I couldn't say a thing but the obvious.
"What have you done?"
Elie's POV.
"So, how was it?" I said, smiling as I saw the man in front of me visibly satisfied.
"It was a very nice breakfast." He declared, and I laughed.
"Told ya."
He approached me from behind and took a hold on me, biting softly my neck. A chill traveled all over me and I felt hot all over. This man took my breath away so easily. I turned to him, our stares locking and my arms and hands landing on his neck, my breathing giving him the hint of what I wanted.
Our mouths found each other easily, and I remembered the power of his kisses, the intensity of his possessiveness and how crazy in love I was with him - had always been. He was everything I wanted… he had become everything I needed to feel whole. A pause followed, and as our mouths barely touched, I really felt the need of speaking my heart to him.
"Oh, Sephiroth..."
"What?"
"I really, really-."
"Don't say a word." He said, his index finger touching my lips, a seductive order for me to be silent. "I'd rather you'd show me."
And that basically rendered me speechless. Sephiroth's Mako eyes shone and eyed me in a way it made my heart melt.
"I like everything about you." He whispered. "The way your skin tastes, the way your body responds to what I do."
And then, with a sudden move, he sat me on the kitchen counter.
"I need to have you, utterly and completely."
I smiled at him, my hands resting alongside his face.
"I'm yours." I reassured, and he smiled at me.
"Yes, you are."
And with a nervous giggle and a sudden princess-like carrying, I let the man of my life take me to the bedroom again.
-/-
As I dressed, Sephiroth arranged himself, clearly preparing to return home.
"There're some things I had to do before I leave." I said, and his stare met mine, as if not liking what I was suggesting. "I'll be right behind you, Sephiroth."
"Don't take too long." He said, after a long, scrutinizing stare. I actually didn't know what that was, but it was really hard for me to admit it was…
"Is that anxiety?" I asked, as I walked and positioned myself in front of him. He seemed thoughtful, in a way.
"No. You know very well what I mean…"
I smiled and thought of what could I say to the man to ease him up.
"There are things I have to take care of, namely concerning the apartment, the place where I work… I can't disappear like I did the last time." I explained. "I want to do things wisely this time."
He smiled swiftly at me, a smile that made my insides flare. He was so sexy and didn't even know it. Or maybe he did, who knew?
He took a deep breath and grasped my waist, in a way I wasn't expecting.
"I can't wait to lay you down in my bed and have you… repeatedly, until you can't see straight."
I gulped dry.
"You're making this very hard to endure."
His nose met mine and his mouth remained painfully close to mine... never touching my lips.
"Think about my proposition as a motivation for you to take care of your very necessary things as quick as possible."
And just like that, I was decided to do things very, very fast. Or all this anticipation would be the death of me.
"I'll be there in a no time." I said, and I pecked his lips. "Just be careful on your way back, don't let anyone spot you."
He nodded.
"I'll be careful."
"See you in a no time."
I blinked at him, and I made him company until we reached the door of my apartment. He was in front of me, and when my hand landed on the lock, his left hand rested on mine. Our stare locked at once and I smiled weakly at him. Mako eyes scanned me, and his right hand angled my chin so that our faces could meet.
A soft kiss followed and I had a strange, painful feeling of… goodbye.
Which was ridiculous, because in a no time I would be with him… again, definitely. Forever.
"I'll be waiting."
I nodded at his declaration and let him leave, the door closing softly as I remained, for an endless amount of time, standing there, breathing heavily and feeling… complete.
For the first time in my life.
Sephiroth's POV.
I reached the abandoned factory rather fast, with no significant occurrences. The movement was scarce so early in the morning and the path was clear… well, not exactly clear.
There were footprints I recognized in the dirty soil of the fabric, and wondered why a SOLDIER would have been lurking around - without me knowing about it, of course.
I had given no specific order in the last 48 hours, so it was getting pretty obvious someone had been here illegally.
The mystery traveler, I thought.
The thought of insubordination burned inside me and I made my way inside the room where the PORTAL rested. Once I would get to the other side, I would find out who the trespasser was and uphold the law.
Finally.
The crossing was as usual, pretty okay, but once I stepped outside the PORTAL something felt strangely off.
The chamber door was open and the movement was chaotic at the pre-chamber. John was there - he, security and others wearing white lab coats, looking seriously worried.
"John!"
I said, my tone loud, and for a moment everyone stopped. The blue-ish tone of the PORTAL became intense, and I had to turn to actually believe I was seeing… that.
"Get out of there!" John screamed, I could hear him faintly, but the way the colors around us changed into orange… then red, which made me take some steps behind.
Something strange was happening and I didn't know what it was, but whatever was doing that to the PORTAL, it was also around me. Around us.
Inside the Planet.
"Get out of there, it's unstable!"
Someone screamed behind me, but before someone could say or do a thing, a potent explosion knocked us all unconscient.
A/N - Sorry for the delay… but I refuse to let go of this. No matter what gets in the way, I will always find time to write this fic.
Hope you liked it :)