Chapter 7: Where everyone is a closet gamer (or almost)
Sephiroth, once he had more or less gotten rid of his military way of thinking, had enjoyed the movie and its sequels well enough. Of course, he couldn't help but notice a number of inconsistencies, but they weren't pronounced enough to totally spoil the movies. They had just had time to finish the first one before Chuck brought them dinner, laughing in amusement when Caroline told him which movies they had watched. The old SOLDIER had brushed aside the silverette's excuses when the latter had brought the plates back to the kitchen, assuring him that he could cook for them for a few days… and they'd make up for it when House declared Zack fully recovered. This one had come once more after that, and each of his assistants had also come at least once since the black haired man woke up.
They had just reached the fourth day after the young man woke up, the latter hoping he would be declared discharged today, and Sephiroth was hoping too. Seeing the young man so still… seemed really unnatural to him. Zack was nicknamed the Puppy for good reasons, one of which was that he struggled to stay in place for more than five minutes, and seeing him bedridden… was genuinely abnormal in the silverette's eyes.
Still, he was beginning to understand how Caroline felt at first, when they had found her. She had no means of subsistence, depending entirely of them for shelter and food, not to mention her protection. For someone who used to be able to fend for himself, as an adult, it was extremely painful to find yourself suddenly returned to the status of a child, so to speak. And Sephiroth didn't even dare ask Chuck to use his bank account, which had probably been closed for a long time, at best. If it wasn't... touching it would immediately alert the Turks. And digging into Zack's was even more dangerous, the Turks certainly keeping an eye on it… even if Tseng had to suspect that the Puppy was still alive.
The silverette had just brought the plates back to the kitchen after lunch when someone knocked on the door in a specific rhythm, making the old SOLDIER nod.
"It must be House, kid. Just go join Caroline and Zack just in case, but normally there's no danger."
Sephiroth complied, almost regretting that these precautions were necessary, even if he could understand them. At least his elder was able to collect some of his belongings with his permission, allowing him to dress properly. He had nothing against Zack's stuff, but even the larger ones were a little too tight for his liking. He smiled as he entered the bedroom, seeing Caroline playing on her computer, Zack watching her do so with fascination. Ori and the Blind Forest, as the game was called, was visually stunning, with superb music, fascinating both Zack and Sephiroth. She was nearing the end of the game if he wasn't mistaken, showing that she knew it almost by heart, to the admiration of the silverette. The latter waited until she had created a "soul link", in other words a save point in the game, to attract their attention.
"It looks like you're likely to be released today, Zack," he said with amusement, noticing the way he was lighting up.
"Truly?" He asked hopefully. "I can't take it anymore of being in bed!"
"The problem, Fair, is that you wouldn't even have had the strength to crawl to the bathroom if I had unhook you up before," said House humorously as he entered the room. "So don't complain."
"Ah, but I'm not complaining," assured Zack. "It's just… I'm not made to stand still," he explained, blushing. "Especially that long."
"Which is why Angeal nicknamed you the Puppy," said Sephiroth, rolling his eyes, seeing a hint of pain crossing his friend's ones. "And you have to admit that the nickname had merit," he added softly, meeting the youngest's purple gaze.
The latter could see a similar pain in the eyes of his former superior, and he knew that he had suffered just as much from the death of one of his only friends, even if he hadn't necessarily shown it openly. The young man was distracted by House who removed the mask, examining him carefully.
"How do you feel, kid? No dizziness?"
"Not since I woke up this morning," Zack replied without hesitation. "And my head isn't spinning without the mask."
The doctor nodded with satisfaction.
"What if you try to sit up without help?"
Leaning on the mattress, Zack got into a sitting position, shaking his head.
"Not really. Just a little dizzy, but I barely felt it. I'm more bothered by the plumbing," he admitted, blushing.
He knew objectively, from what Caro had told him, that they had put a t-shirt on him when they had removed the bandages once his wounds had completely closed, but he had absolutely nothing below the belt. House snickered at his expression, making him blush a little more.
"Good news, kid, that means I can remove it all. Do you mind going to the living room?" He asked, turning to Caroline and Sephiroth, who were watching with attention and relief. "I think he's going to be embarrassed enough like that with just me, right?"
Caroline couldn't help but giggle upon seeing Zack's embarrassed expression, and went to embrace him in her arms, kissing him tenderly as he hugged her with a sigh of relief.
"We'll come back as soon as the way is clear," she assured with a smile as he released her. "Chuck said he was planning to go get something during this time, and I'm pretty sure it must be a new bed. It'll be more comfortable for the three of us, right?" She asked with a smile towards Sephiroth, who couldn't help but laugh softly.
"That's for sure," he confessed.
Even if the bed they had was a bit wider than average, he was still forced to lay against the wall to leave enough room for the young woman… or serve as her mattress. Not that it bothered him, quite the contrary, but he had woken up with a… quite pronounced reaction this very morning, which hadn't really gone down when she woke up too. The way she sat on him… had somewhat awakened his libido, dormant until then. House's amused snort caught their attention, making them blush slightly at his smirk.
"Too much information, kids," he joked, making them blush even more. "Go out, shoo! The faster you get out, the faster you can come back to see him."
Zack couldn't help but laugh when he saw them do so, his girlfriend dragging Sephiroth behind her, the silverette obediently following her. House shook his head, catching Zack's eyes, his expression almost wistful.
"Ah, to be young and dashing again, not to mention in love…" he sighed, making the young man laugh again, before turning his attention back to him. "You're lucky, kid," he added, pulling out a small kit, "I managed to get my hands on a Mako injection. Not the usual injections, unfortunately, but the ones just below. However, given your condition, it's not that bad."
"And you're injecting it now?" Zack asked, confused and perplexed. "It's not that I'm complaining, but… why?"
"Do you want to walk around with a diaper while your sphincter tightens?" House asked, raising an eyebrow, making Zack blush like a tomato. "I'm sure you've already gotten bigger in there before, but you were in great shape, and most importantly, it didn't stay for two whole months, never coming out."
"I said nothing," squeaked the young man. "Go for the injection!"
Frankly, he didn't need House to throw out details of his sex life. Too embarrassing. And if a Mako injection helped him avoid a diaper or whatever… he was all for it. He barely paid attention to the shot, much less to the quick energy boost it gave him, the doctor almost immediately making the bed sheet fly away from him, looking at him critically. House nodded with satisfaction as he began to remove the pipes used to collect the waste from the young man's body, or feed him, the latter trying to wriggle as little as possible, despite the rather… special sensations, he would have said. It wasn't painful, not really, just… weird. And the feeling of emptiness, behind, not exactly pleasant… even if he could almost feel the Mako working, focusing on muscles that were stretched for a bit too long. Fortunately, the doctor had granted him a minimum of privacy by going to the dresser, asking him if he had a drawer reserved for him. Zack replied with relief now that he could finally sit properly, pushing his legs over the edge of the bed, shivering as his feet touched the cool tiles for the first time in ages.
The SOLDIERS' apartments were tiled for a simple reason, they were easier to clean that way. Most people thought it was because of monster blood, mud, and so on. And they weren't entirely wrong. But there was also another reason. One that wasn't advertised by SOLDIERS, for a number of reasons, including the fact that most people didn't know what was going on with Mako's injections. The amount of sperm produced by a SOLDIER's body… was generally such that it left marks everywhere, not just on the sheets. And since it wasn't always possible to clean carpets as often as necessary or correctly, replacing them had quickly cost too much for Shinra's greed... or the general budget of SOLDIER. So, very quickly, tiling had become the norm for apartments. The only disadvantage was the temperature of the tiles when you got out of bed, but for Zack, it was honestly a really minor inconvenience.
The young man was pulled from his thoughts by House who came back to him, clothes in hand. He didn't protest when his elder told him that he would wait until he was dressed, the latter apparently having seen him completely naked often enough to not be embarrassed, especially when the doctor explained to him that he would help him join the living room, rather than letting the other two come back. It would be good for them to change scenery, he said. The effects of Mako's injection were already starting to wear off, he could feel it, so he wasn't against a hand to stand up. He was out of bed, yes, but that didn't mean he could start frolicking around like before. Not immediately. At least the doctor left him with an illusion of privacy… even if after removing all those pipes it wasn't really necessary, Zack thought, putting on the clothes with relief. It felt good to feel dressed.
"I'm ready," said the boy, drawing House's attention after putting on his slippers.
"In that case, let's go, kid," said the doctor with an amused smile. "But slowly," he added, as the young man staggered, having got up a little too quickly.
"Yes doctor," he replied, slightly greenish. "I'm dizzy…"
"That's why I said slowly, kid," said House, rolling his eyes as he came to support him. "Seriously, I know that because of this sadist pretending to be a doctor, you all have trouble with the medical profession in SOLDIER, but still!"
"Sorry, doc, bad habits are tough to break," Zack joked, leaning against him. "I'll make an effort, I promise."
"I hope so, Fair, because if Chuck comes to tell me that you hurt yourself because you were doing stupid stunts, you're going to hear me!"
"I'll behave," promised the young man, gently taking a step forward.
Zack's main problem at this time was mainly his balance, more than strength. The Mako still had enough effect that he could walk a little… but not very far. And not alone, that was certain. Keeping an arm around House's shoulders, he walked slowly down the hall, until they reached the living room.
The young man blinked, surprised, at the sight that appeared on the television screen. Was it a cartoon? He wondered, bewildered. It looked like it anyway… until Sephiroth spoke up, sounding as confused as he was.
"I guess… something is going to happen to his mother, right?" Said the silverette gently, drawing Zack's attention to him. "And that we are going to have to save her?"
"That's about it, Seph… but believe me, it's a lot more complicated than that," Caroline replied softly, cuddling against him.
"And this has something to do with this story of two worlds that we saw in the opening cutscene?"
"Yep, and it's also much more complex than it sounds."
"What about that little ghost girl?"
Caroline chuckled in response.
"Be patient, Seph. If I answer you, I'll reveal the whole plot of the game before you figure it out for yourself."
"It's really a game?" Zack asked softly as he approached, his heart tightening at the scene on the screen.
The young woman nodded sadly, watching the mother sacrifice herself for her son, her heart unfortunately not supporting the effort. Her eyes fell on Sephiroth, who was watching the scene with some confusion… and envy.
"And that," she said softly, drawing his attention, "is what a real mother can do. Sacrifice her life to save her child… because it's the right thing to do. Because she loves them more than anything in the world."
House helped Zack settle on the couch, then quietly joined Chuck in the kitchen, who was keeping an eye on his protégés while making snacks for them. He had already seen her play the game, and approved of her choice to show it to the silverette. Even if the mother's sacrifice was hard… it showed him what a parent really was. The old warrior talked for a few minutes to the doctor, who approved what he was preparing for the young man, before leaving to take care of his other patients. Being the Turks' doctor was a full-time job, especially knowing that he only had half a dozen assistants, having to fight tooth and nail to recruit anyone, Hojo doing his best to make life hard for him. And even within his small group, House was barely really trusting only two of them, three at most. And they were the ones he'd picked to take care of Zack.
House could understand the secret around the young man, spending his time dealing with the Turks. Most… had genuinely grieved over what they perceived as a failure to save a friend, especially with Caroline in the lot. However… as long as the President was alive, to tell them that Zack and Caroline were alive and well (especially now that Zack had woken up) would have been too dangerous. He didn't really understood what Sephiroth was doing here, but the less he knew, the better. At present, the company's hierarchy had taken a serious blow, so it was more prudent to lay low. Most shareholders behaved like a pack of Kalm Fangs before a prey in a time of famine when they had just lost their alpha. The more intelligent (or sensible) ones staying away from the fights until things have calmed down. Rufus Shinra… was going to have trouble securing his position at the top, even if he had the Turks on his side. There was also a good chance that Reeves would line up with him, especially after the Sector 7 incident. If the Shinra Heir hadn't disapproved as openly as the Director of Urban development… he had clearly expressed his disagreement, even if it had been in silence.
Chuck greeted the doctor when he left, locking the door behind him. Returning to the living room, he looked with some affectionate amusement at Caroline and Zack advising Sephiroth for the game, even though the Puppy seemed just as lost as his elder for the most part. And he could see the silverette listen to the young woman more than his cadet, even if he still followed some of his directions. Realizing she was a gamer... had been quite a surprise to him, to be honest. And even more by realizing that she was part of the hardcore category… or, in any case, enough to start a game over and over again until she get the most difficult trophies.
oOo
Railing against the game developers, Caroline restarted Ori again. It had been the sixth or seventh time in a row that she had recreated a save, and each time she found a way to die stupidly. Of course, since she was playing in "one life" mode, each death made her start over from the very beginning. And she had to erase her game save every time, to make sure the trophy was unlockable. Fortunately, she was reaching farther and farther now with each death, but she was seriously considering asking Chuck for a bottle of Banora White Juice the day she managed to have all the trophies from Ori and the Blind Forest. The price of those bottles had gone through the roof since the destruction of the town… which had fortunately been empty when Shinra had bombed it. The only victims… had been the copies of Genesis, as well as his adoptive parents, and Angeal's mother… but Shinra wasn't responsible for their death. In any case, not directly. Genesis… had apparently murdered his adoptive parents, for reasons that weren't very clear, and Gillian Hewley had committed suicide under the weight of shame at the experiences in which she had participated before Angeal's birth.
The woman shook her head with a sigh, pinching her nose tiredly. Both mother and son committed suicide rather than facing the truth of their actions. It almost seemed to be a family tradition… especially with the fact that Angeal's stepfather (even if she had never been able to tell him either) had killed himself from overwork to repay the loan he had contracted to pay that monster sword he had given to his son. But hey, it wasn't worth this asshole of Vincent Valentine, who had preferred to drown in his guilt by sleeping in a coffin for twenty years, she said to herself, annoyed, recreating a save. This idiot had preferred to stupidly lock himself in a fucking coffin to mull over his "sins"… instead of moving his ass and acting, Caroline thought, passing the prologue.
Chuck walked into the living room a few minutes later, and watched her play with some amusement for a while, noting that it wasn't the first time she had played this game. Caroline had explained to him that she wanted to try to finish at 100% trophies level, and that she was currently working on having the most difficult ones, especially those of not dying once in the whole game… which seemed particularly hard, if he judged by the number of insults she threw at the game. The latter was clearly more difficult than it seemed at first, if he judged by the "one life" mode. The old SOLDIER then went into his bedroom to change, having accidentally stained his shirt with the tomato sauce for the pizza tonight. Anyway, all that remained to do was to let the dough rest, everything else was ready.
He had just finished cleaning his t-shirt, soaking it in a basin to make sure the job was done, when he heard Caroline scream. With his blood pumping, he leapt toward his dresser, grabbing his armlet with his favorite Materias, before rushing to his bedroom door, opening it abruptly. His gaze scanned the living room quickly, the marbles shining brightly, before blinking, calming down when he heard the young woman continue to insult the game, making him realize that her scream was due to frustration, not to panic at the presence of Hojo.
"YOU'RE FUCKING LUCKY THAT I WANT TO PRESERVE MY CONTROLER YOU BUNCH OF ASSHOLES!" Caroline yelled angrily. "OTHERWISE, I SWEAR I WOULD HAVE SWUNG IT AT THE WALL, BEFORE FUCKING YOU WITH A GLASS SHARDS-COVERED CACTUS IN YOUR ASS! THEN I WOULD HAVE SODOMIZED YOU WITH A CACTUAR ATTACK OF A THOUSAND NEEDLE, ALL UNLUBRICATED! BASTARDS!"
A snicker escaped him in spite of himself when he heard her insult the devs, being more and more inventive. That girl was imaginative, he told himself with amusement as he returned to change, taking out a clean t-shirt. And some self-control as to not explode her controller against the wall. Not everyone could do it, and he had lost count of the number of controllers that ended up in the trash among the younger generation of SOLDIERS, even taking into account the fact that video game manufacturers had created controllers specially for them… although that wasn't enough for 1st Classes.
When he came out a few moments later, it was to see her playing a game very similar to SOLDIERS Kart Rumbles, but with very different characters and much more colorful. The roads were pretty original too, he noticed with amusement. Chuck watched her play for a few minutes without disturbing her, seeing that she seemed to be calming down, before speaking to her, coming to lean on the back of the couch.
"What's the name of this game, kid?"
Caroline had jumped when she felt him leaning on the backrest beside her, before raising her head to look at him, a little confused to see him taking an interest in her games.
"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," she replied, a bit puzzled, turning her attention back to the game as the race began. "It's pretty much the same principle as SOLDIERS Kart Rumbles, the only difference is that the characters and tracks are inspired by video games from back home."
"I see that," he said, observing the characters. "Why 8, by the way?"
"Because there have been other versions in each "generation," so to speak, of consoles," she explained, throwing a banana peel behind her. "On the other hand, it's much better in multiplayer," grumbled the young woman. "Solo, you get quickly bored outside of training. AIs are dumb."
Proving it a few seconds later by passing in front of all the other characters, easily remaining in the lead until the end of the race. The old SOLDIER could see that the game seemed quite close to SOLDIERS Kart anyway, in terms of gameplay, only a few bonuses being different. Of course, the biggest problem was that she didn't have internet access here. The network was too different for that. And no one else had this console and these games. However… It gave him ideas. Maybe it would help her distract herself? He tells himself while going back to the kitchen, starting the pizzas preparation.
Once these were put in the oven and put to cook, he went to one of the rooms which served him as a storage room, rummaging through the boxes filled with belongings which he never used, or in any case too little to keep them out, and just enough to not get rid of it completely. Putting his hand on the console a few minutes later, he sighed in annoyance, realizing that he had put the games elsewhere for some reason that he didn't remember. Well, he was at least certain that they shouldn't be far either way.
He put his hand on the games bag just as the oven rang, announcing that the pizzas were cooked. Returning immediately to the kitchen, the bag and the console box in hand, he hastened to get them out for supper, placing the other belongings on a corner of the table. Caroline entered a few seconds later, glancing curiously at the bag on the box, before ignoring them and setting the table. Even if she liked to play certain games in loop (or almost), sometimes she wanted to do something else. And playing Mario Kart… was more fun in multiplayer. Solo, as she said to Chuck… became boring and bland very quickly.
Living with him, however… almost made her think of living with her father. He let her do pretty much whatever she wanted, even if he wasn't trying to convince her to go out… but probably because of Hojo. If this sadist hadn't been there… or his zealous subordinates… he would probably have taken her with him on certain missions. Things being what they were, however, he told her that he had refused some of them because they would have taken him too far from the city. And that frankly relieved her. Because she was terrified every time he had to go out. The armored door reassured her a little… even if nothing was worth his presence. As if she was with a very protective big brother/father.
The young woman couldn't hold a grimace at the amount of hot sauce he was putting on his own pizza, making him laugh. He knew very well that she hated everything spicy, barely supporting pepper, so he always made sure to prepare something that was either non-spicy or could have spicy sauce aside, when he decided to do this sort of thing. And here, for example, he made her a simple ham/cheese/mushroom pizza, with a little black olives on top. His, on the other hand, included extra-strong Chorizo (or the Gaia equivalent, Caroline thought), and that was without counting the spicy sauce, which almost made her cry as there was so much. It reminded her of Zack, and she remembered how much it made him laugh when she joked that he must have burnt his taste buds completely. And he joked that Mako treated all burns he might have on his tongue, leaving him free to build his resistance to spices.
The memory made her want to cry, and she didn't realize that the tears had started to flow before Chuck put his hand on her shoulder, surprising her. She looked up, meeting his blue eyes, which fixed her with compassion.
"Don't cry, kid," he said kindly. "I promise we will save him. You told me roughly when it would happen, even if you aren't sure of the direction."
Sniffing, she wiped away her tears.
"I know. I think… they will come from the south, since Banora is in this direction. It's mostly… the fact doing nothing before that time," she admitted, her throat tight. "Even though I know that there is no choice…"
"You don't like it," he said softly, rubbing her back to comfort her. "And believe me, I don't like it any more than you do," he sighed, serving himself another slice of his pizza. "But unfortunately I have no reason to go to the Nibel region for a mission… and yet I keep an eye on the questboard just in case… and if I ever went there anyway, not only would it take me too much time, but you would be in danger too. Whether you come with me or not. I don't like it either… but I think Fair would still prefer to stay in the hands of Dr Creepy rather than having me jeopardize you by going to rescue him."
Caroline nodded gently, her throat tight. Yes, she knew Zack well enough to know that Chuck had guessed right. Even if it broke her heart to think of her boyfriend in the hands of that sadist. But Zack was the kind to think about the safety of his loved ones before the rest, she knew it. The way he ran back to the Tower when Genesis copies attacked at the same time as Hollander fled… leaving Aerith behind without hesitating… proved it to her. His priority at that moment had been more her than Genesis' copies or even Angeal. He even completely forgot about the teenager until Sephiroth asked him where, exactly, he went after his fight with his mentor. His guilty expression explaining that he forgot to apologize to the girl after landing in her flowers, breaking them… had been honestly adorable. A real sheepish puppy.
The meal ended in silence, the young woman honestly melancholic at this moment, and the old warrior respecting her sorrow. Once they had done the dishes, he grabbed the console box and bag, handing them over to his guest, surprising her.
"What's that?" She asked, confused and a little curious.
"A small gift from me," replied the old SOLDIER with a fatherly smile, "to take your mind off things. Think you feel able to unlock the legendary characters from these games?" He asked with a wink, much to his guest's confusion.
The latter looked at him with incomprehension, taking the bag and the box anyway, looking at them carefully. There were half a dozen games in the bag, some that she recognized because she had played them with Zack, and others that she had never seen before. The one that caught her interest the most, however, was the SOLDIERS Kart Rumble. Still in the Mario Kart state of mind, she decided to play it first. Either way, she didn't really want to play a solo game, she told herself as she returned to the living room. And Monster Rumble Smash didn't tempt her at all, Caroline thought as she installed the console.
Fortunately, the installation wasn't very complicated, and she could quickly turn it on, blinking in surprise when she saw that there was already a profile on it. Tuffdog01? She read with perplexity. But where did Chuck get the console from? Wondered the young woman, starting to create a profile for herself. It wasn't his, right? She wondered as she filled in the necessary fields, her heart clenched as she remembered how Zack had taught her how. She had… really enjoyed the moments they spent playing together, despite Genesis' jealousy. The Puppy patiently teaching her the intricacies of the games he preferred, and discovering certain games with her. And teaming up with him… had been a lot of fun when they were playing SOLDIERS Kart. Between his comments on the other players and his way of protecting her when they were playing on the same team… it had been really relaxing moments for her. Allowing her to forget, at least for a moment, that she was almost trapped in the apartment in an attempt to protect herself from Hojo.
A few minutes later, she was ready to play, and joined a game session for beginners, just to get reused to the gameplay, having not played it for a few months… and as much to say that she had certainly lost her hand at it. Zack loved taking his own character, just because it made him laugh… and so did she. For her part, Caroline preferred to take the Mog, because it was cute. And apparently a majority of new players were taking it because it was easier to master than other characters. She and Zack… had been working on unlocking some "fabulous" characters, who were just below the legendaries, before his last mission. You could only distinguish the contours of the characters, making it difficult to identify them… but she wouldn't have been surprised that Sephiroth and the others were among the legendary characters. It was quite logical, especially knowing their strength and celebrity.
She started as quickly as possible when the race started, enjoying the fact that this game had boosters, much like this old PS2 game called Space Race, where it was Looney Toons instead of video game characters like Mario, Link or Bowser. It added spice to the race, especially if you miscalculated when it was activated, she told herself, snickering when she saw another Mog rushing into the void, going too fast to correct its trajectory in time for the curve. It was already much better than alone, Caroline thought with a slight amused smile at the others. She wasn't really much better than they were… but the goal was to have fun, she told herself, picking up a Chocobo.
oOo
Peter looked nervously at the elevator, quite stressed. The Dragon wasn't there yet, being on a mission, which was the main reason he had dared to knock on his door. He was quite surprised that a girl lived in his home, everyone knowing that he was gay (and, according to the latest news, he had never gotten drunk enough to end the night with a woman when he was younger, so that excluded family), but no one had dared to ask him the question. However, he would have preferred to learn about it another way than because of Dr. Creepy breaking into his home. The old Dragon had been in a dragon's mood (no pun intended) since this event, so the SOLDIERS preferred to run smoothly in his presence. No need to add oil to the fire. However, if Dr. Creepy was after her… he doubted she would dare to go out. It reminded him a little of the Puppy's girlfriend… who had mysteriously disappeared just before the latter's death, if he trusted what Kunzel had said.
Shaking his head (now isn't the time to daydream, Peter!), he gently raised his hand, knocking gently on the door, loud enough for a normal person to hear. He himself could hear the young woman inside the apartment suddenly shut up, only the sound of the game playing faintly in the background. If he wasn't mistaken… it was the Costa Del Sol track of SOLDIERS Kart that he heard. The race ended a few seconds later, so he knocked again, slipping the message under the door. Listening, he heard her approach the door hesitantly, grabbing the note.
Hi, I'm one of the SOLDIERS who lives on this floor, we heard you raging at SKR a few times, do you want to play with us online? Don't worry, we'll call you BB Dragon, to keep it low-key. So what do you say? You want to play with us? It's always better with friends, right? If you agree, my friend code is as follows (string of numbers), nickname Merry Pip, and the ID of our private group chat if you want to join. You just have to slip your answer under the door if you agree, I'm waiting for your answer.
All he hoped for… was that she wouldn't take too long to respond, he told himself, glancing nervously at the elevator. The Dragon… had a knack for popping up when you least expected it… especially when the SOLDIERS were fooling around. Even if all he wanted at this moment was to help the poor girl. She must be feeling very lonely… but it wasn't like he was going to dare to ask the old SOLDIER questions. One, because he cared for his backside, and that he visualized without problem the monumental spanking that he would take if Nokia learned that he had dared to approach his lair. And two, the less he knew, the less he could say if ever asked about it. Plausible deniability and all that.
Peter was surprised to hear her scribbling almost immediately, blinking. Well, she wasn't wasting time in any case. The poor girl must really feel alone. He grabbed her response as soon as she slid it completely under the door, reading it carefully.
I'd love to, but I don't have a headset with a mic on hand. It's not a problem? PS: I'll join the group as soon as I can.
An amused smile escaped him, even as he wrote his own answer, glad he took a notebook with him. Sliding the sheet under the door, he let her read without pressing her, despite his nervousness.
No problem, you can still plug classic headphones into the controller and use the console keyboard to answer if you want. Lots of people do this because they are too shy or deaf/mute.
A few seconds later, another sheet slipped on the door, on which was written her response.
Alright then. And thank you for the proposal. Ps: my nickname on the console is Fumseck.
See you then, Peter replied, turning back to his apartment with relief.
"Mission accomplished!" He said to his friends, making them relax with relief.
"Since we didn't hear the Dragon roar, he didn't show up I guess?" Asked Naxus, who was sitting in front of the console. "Ah, she sent the friend request!"
"What are you waiting for to accept then?" Keitaro asked, coming back from the kitchen with the snacks.
"Your dick in my ass," replied the brunette without hesitation, making his friends laugh, while adding the young woman.
"In your dreams, it will rather be Pip who will have it, since he had the balls to go and bring her the message," replied Keitaro, placing the snacks on the coffee table.
"And I can't wait for tonight," said the concerned man, chuckling, coming to sit on the sofa, grabbing his headset.
"Sub," launched Naxus without conviction, launching the racing selections.
"And proud of it," Pip replied calmly. "Don't be surprised if she doesn't speak in vocals, she apparently has no mic, just the console keyboard."
"At least she can answer," said Keitaro, settling down too, "that's better than nothing. BB Dragon?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend.
He shrugged.
"She's under Nokia's protection, right? And you're not going to tell me that I'm the only one who thinks he looks like a nesting dragon these days, right?"
"Not wrong," admitted Naxus. "Ok, she's in the group… let's go vocal?"
"Yep. Remember, be nice to her," Pip warns them.
"We're always with the others," Keitaro sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, but she's a beginner, and she's shy," said Pip firmly, just before the young woman connected herself on chat. "Hi BB Dragon," he said kindly.
Hi, Pip. Thank you for the invitation, I admit that I didn't dare to join a group.
"No problem," he assured her. "You mastered the game a little?"
Not much, I'm not very good ^^", she replied. I will do my best anyway.
"We're asking nothing more, don't worry," replied Naxus. "If you want to add me as a friend, my nickname is Naxrelax17, and you can call me Nax."
"And I'm DahKiKi-RIPu," said Keitaro, joining the conversation. "But call me Dahk, okay?"
And couldn't you make it more complicated? ¬_¬ You're truly a guy. The woman replied in writing, making them laugh.
They could imagine her saying that in a deadpan tone, and it was really funny. It was also reassuring to see her confident enough to make fun of them, even if they suspected it was a test. With Hojo after her… the young woman had every reason to be on guard. Well, after all, it wasn't like they were in a hurry, Pip told himself as the race started. And even if they didn't know her real identity… it didn't matter. What mattered was to offer her a friendly presence, with whom she could speak without fear, and perhaps feel, with a little hope, a little less isolated.
At first, she was very reserved, not saying much about herself, and the three friends respected that. Slowly, seeing that they really seemed to want to know her, and especially that they regarded her as a friend, she began to open more and more. Of course, she didn't reveal everything to them, and they suspected she might never do so, but at least it helped her feel less lonely, at least they hoped.
oOo
A few months later, they were surprised to hear her voice echoing down the hall, exclaiming "A Trico!" in a tone that was both surprised and amazed as Chuck returned home. Pip and Naxus exchanged a confused look, drinks in hand for one and snacks for the other, quite puzzled. Especially after hearing the slightly drugged squeak that was heard a few seconds later.
"Trico?" Naxus repeated, resuming his way and entering the living room.
"What do you mean Trico?" Keitaro asked, intrigued. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm pretty sure we've just heard BB Dragon say that in wonder," said Pip, placing the drinks on the table. "And something resembling a canine squeak."
Since the young woman had dropped the game for the moment, they took the opportunity to go and refuel in the process. The answer to their question came to them a few minutes later, when she wrote in the chat that Papa Dragon had just brought a young Guard Dog back to the apartment, which had apparently been mistreated and used in dog fights. So she would be a little less present to game in the coming weeks. Pip couldn't help but worry about her, and he was pretty sure she would be smiling at them while writing.
Don't worry too much about this, guys. Chuck had him castrated before he got home, and he's still under anesthesia. He won't be moving for a good quarter of an hour, so we still have time to play a little before supper, she wrote.
"It's okay, but be careful, okay?" Said Naxus kindly, unable to help worrying about her, she remained a civilian, not even a Turk. "If he was abused, he may be dangerous."
Chuck isn't far away, and I know he keeps an eye on us ;). And it's not like I'm going to try to approach him anyhow. Do we do some individual races? I don't think we have time to do the usual cycle, even taking the shortest one.
Keitaro snorts with amusement and weariness.
"You have no survival instinct, BB Dragon, you know that?"
You are not the first to tell me that, Dahk XD And you will surely not be the last!
"And everyone failed to make you more careful, right?" Pip asked with amusement.
Yep! So, are we doing these races?
"You're really a baby dragon to be so impatient," Naxus chuckled.
Fuck off, Dakh! *emote of fuck you finger*
"That doesn't help to give an impression of maturity,'' piped Pip.
:P
The emote made them laugh, and they launched a new race, the three friends surrounding the young woman's kart to try to protect her, pushing competitors into the void from time to time, to the great frustration of their opponents, who angrily insulted them. Even if none of them had taken on a legendary or fabulous character, they were still characters they mastered well. BB Dragon wrote mainly in private chat, sending a sarcastic comment to the public one from time to time, making them laugh.
Finally, a little too quickly for their liking, she wrote in the chat that she was going to try to feed the young Guard Dog, and they couldn't help but remind her to be careful. Knowing that she would certainly eat next, they paused their own game, also going to eat themselves, despite their concern. After all, as she said, Papa Dragon kept an eye on her and the puppy. Despite this, they were genuinely relieved when she returned after the meal, reporting on her success in starting to gain the Guard Dog's trust. Briefly congratulating her, they quickly resumed racing, the young woman trying to take another character for that. As she said, she wasn't necessarily very good, but it didn't matter to them. She was trying, that was the best they could hope. And at least… it was taking her mind off of things, which was the main goal.
oOo
A few days after the arrival of the young Guard Dog (which BB Dragon had called Trico, in reference to an animal in a video game apparently), Peter and the others had decided to rename their small group "BB Dragon's Protection Squad", making the young woman laugh. The puppy was also doing well in his new life, it seemed, showing himself calm, even docile towards his new mistress. Papa Dragon, as they called him, helped her train him, even if it seems that he decided to consider her as his master and not Chuck. It made her confused, but Naxus, who knew a little bit about the subject, assured her that it could happen, even if the exact mechanics remained quite confusing.
They had just returned from their last mission (and spent a few hours bringing the frustration down with Keitaro, who had had a fairly stressful mission on his side), but Peter turned on the console without hesitation, his lovers preparing the snacks and the drinks on their side, smiling when he saw their friend connect.
Hi guys, did the mission go well?
Turning on his mic, Peter replied, smiling.
"Yes, don't worry. Sorry to be a bit late, but Dahk had a pretty… stressful mission on his side, and he needed help to bring the tension down," he explained tactfully.
Your asses' not too painful I hope? Wrote the young woman, almost making him choke in surprise with his own saliva.
"What… how do you know that?" He asked, taken aback. "And don't you mind asking that kind of question?" Peter asked, more confused and puzzled than upset.
I have the tact of a thirty-eight ton truck in a headlong collision XD. And no real embarrassment on that side. To answer your first question… should I remind you that I live with a SOLDIER?
Peter opened and closed his mouth a few times, before laughing, but couldn't help it.
"That's true. Doesn't it make you uncomfortable living with him with that?" He asked, curious.
Nah, not really. When he does that… he goes to his friend. He doesn't invite him to the apartment. And it's not like he tells me the details afterwards, she wrote, making him laugh. By the way… can I invite someone into the group?
Naxus arrived at that moment, and raised an eyebrow when he saw the chat. Grabbing his own controller, he inserted his memory card into it, connecting to the console, and plugging in his headset.
"Hi, BB Dragon. Are you sure of yourself?" He asked gently. "To invite someone?"
Yep, I know he's safe. Otherwise I wouldn't have offered it. So? You agree?
Peter motioned for Keitaro to join them, the latter doing so, taking his own controller. Reading the discussion quickly, he nodded, putting on his headset.
"If the others agree, no problem for me. What do you say?" He asked, looking at them.
Naxus shrugged in response.
"No worries on my side, and you Pip?"
"Same," confirmed the latter. "Send him the invitation, BB Dragon, we're good."
Great. Just give me a minute…
A few seconds later, a friend request appeared on the screen, making Peter whistle admiringly even as he was quick to accept. The player, whoever he was, had a platinum crown next to his name… even if the name wasn't saying anything to the three friends. Tuffdog01 wasn't a profile name that was known to them… which didn't prevent them from admiring it. Having a platinum crown… meant that the player had mastered dozens of games, and had all the trophies in each of them.
"We are in the presence of a master!" Keitaro exclaimed in an overly ceremonial tone, making the others laugh. "Bow down in front of him guys!"
Before the player in question connected his mic… and let out a growl very similar to that of a dragon… snatching out shocked and terrified squeaks from them, loud enough to be heard in the surrounding apartments. And there was only one person that could make such sounds, to their knowledge. The rumbling growl perfectly recognizable for having been heard regularly by the SOLDIERS.
"THE DRAGON IS A MASTER GAMER?!" yelled Naxus, in shock.
The dragon in question snickered gently, making them easily imagine his toothy smile. Terrifying them almost more than anything.
"Can I know what you're doing?" Lieutenant Nokia asked softly, his tone deceptively kind.
"WE'RE JUST PLAYING WITH THE BB DRAGON, SIR!" squeaked Peter, terrified.
"Just playing, mmmmh?" He asked, making them feel like he was enjoying their terror, the bastard.
"YES SIR!" Almost whimpered Keitaro.
"You better not screw up with her, you hear me kids?" Asked their elder sternly, making them easily imagine his expression, a raised eyebrow while looking at them with a stern look.
"SIR, YES SIR!" Exclaimed the three SOLDIERS as one, terrified beyond words.
Chuck cackled softly, making them shiver.
"That's good children. Alright, I have to go now, so I'll leave you. Have fun."
And he disconnected abruptly, leaving them in shock. Almost forgetting that BB Dragon was still online… even if the woman was at least kind enough to not make fun of them. It was already that.
"I think I'm going to change my underwear before our first race," said Peter weakly, still very pale.
"No kidding?" Keitaro mumbled.
"It was terrifying," whined Naxus. "Really terrifying."
They flinched when they heard a mic activate, however, barely relaxing when they heard the young woman's voice… who seemed both a little embarrassed… and very amused.
"Sorry for the scare guys… but he asked me to speak with you before I turned on the mic. He takes my security very seriously."
"Because of Dr Creepy?" Keitaro asked, slowly getting colors back.
"Yes. He's… particularly obsessed with the idea of getting his hands on me. And it's been so for quite a long time," she explained softly.
None of the three friends tried to insist, knowing it was too private. And, in any case, the less they knew about it, the better. If they knew too much… they might endanger her accidentally. Apologizing briefly, the SOLDIERS went to change, putting their dirty things to wash, immediately launching the washing machine.
Returning to the living room, they finally launched the races, more suspicious than ever of the other players. The odds that one of Hojo's subordinates was in the game were minimal… they still existed. The young woman warned them despite everything that there would be times when she wouldn't join them in public vocal chats, or, in any case, where she wouldn't activate her mic if she ever recognized a voice… because that would mean that the player in question was likely to recognize her. And she didn't want to risk endangering anyone besides herself. And the three friends could understand. One thing was certain… if Dr Creepy wanted to get his hands on her… he would have to pass over their bodies.
oOo
Chuck chuckled softly, thinking back to the fright he had given to the three SOLDIERS. After that… he had personally and discreetly questioned any SOLDIER wanting to join the small group, ejecting the idiots and the curious with metaphorical ass kicks. And no one had ever dared to complain about it, fearing him too much, especially after Peter and his friends named him the group's "Ultimate Administrator". And realizing that he was a Legendary Player… had further raised the terrified admiration of the youngsters, even if he hadn't had as much time to play lately, much to his regret. Flanking virtual beatings to young kids pretending to be top dogs was a lot of fun, he thought, chuckling softly. And terrify them by realizing that it was himself who played his own character… particularly satisfying. Youngsters now knew that to join "BB Dragon's Protection Squad", you had to ask for Papa Dragon's approval himself… and very few dared to do so.
Shaking his head in amusement, Chuck looked at the youngsters who were playing in his living room with a certain paternal affection. He would have to say a few words to these boys… even if it was more for his personal enjoyment than anything else. They had always treated her more than correctly, according to the young woman, but that didn't prevented him from having a little talk with them. When she and Zack had started to date… or they had added Sephiroth… Caroline hadn't had a father figure to make them the speech of "if you hurt my daughter we will never find the pieces of your body, even with the help of the Turks." The woman may not have been his daughter by blood… that hadn't stopped him from gradually adopting her as such in his heart. Living with her and taking care of her as best he could had had this effect… but he still preferred to do it again a hundred times rather than abandon her to her fate. Well, the two boys currently present didn't really need that little speech… except maybe Sephiroth because of the fact that he gone crazy for a while (although it was probably due in part to the fact of having lost her), but if he got his hands on Genesis… oh yes, he was going to be getting it. And not just a little, said the old warrior to himself, chewing thoughtfully on an extinguished cigar. He never smoked in the apartment, and very rarely in general, only to celebrate a successful mission.
His PHS vibrated, pulling him from his thoughts, the boys too focused on the game to hear anything currently… and not perceiving any danger. He doubted that they would ever want to go back to the apartment they shared before the… event in Nibelheim. Between the young woman's "kidnapping" and the rest… he suspected they would probably feel safer with him. But hey, that was another story, he told himself as he read the message, nodding with satisfaction. Well, the kid had been fast, and that suited him. He couldn't see the three of them sleeping properly that night, even if the two beds were pushed together, thought the old warrior as he walked towards the entrance, amused. And he also didn't see them sleeping separately, especially now that Zack was released from medical equipment. He might have been able to lend them his bed… but he doubted they would have dared to accept, he said to himself, snickering softly, opening the door.
A young SOLDIER was standing in front of him, extremely nervous, a bag in his hands. Of course, civilians had access to Materias (even if Chuck sincerely hated using all the synthetic crap they were supplied with, far preferring natural ones), but very few thought of using them creatively… as if to miniaturize bulky purchases, for example. The kind he asked this SOLDIER to do. Grabbing the bag, Chuck quickly checked to make sure it was all there, nodding with satisfaction when he saw that it was. He gave the envelope he had prepared in advance to the SOLDIER, knowing that the latter had to advance the sum… and that it hadn't been given.
Most would have thought that this exchange was hiding something fishy… when not at all. The old warrior could probably have gone out to buy this new bed himself, he told himself as he closed the door… but he was sincerely reluctant to leave his apartment until Zack was able to defend himself. Even if with Sephiroth present, they were somewhat sheltered… Chuck didn't plan on going out until the young man was fully recovered. He would certainly not leave his adopted daughter with nothing less than two perfectly healthy protectors, decided the SOLDIER, taking a look in the living room, watching the silverette try to understand how to play the game, Zack watching things carefully and Caroline guiding him patiently. It was… comforting to see him behave like that, he thought as he made his way to the bedroom. Sephiroth… had probably never had the opportunity to discover these kinds of atmospheres, or to play video games with friends. Between Dr. Creepy and the monstrous work he had… opportunities to relax had probably been extremely rare, he believed.
Chuck entered the kids' room, studying it critically. Yes, there was plenty of room to put the bed, but he was going to have to remove everything for that. Putting the bag on the dresser, he set to work, rolling up his sleeves. He started by shrinking the beds with Mini, so he could get them out quickly and without problems. The medical equipment followed immediately after, the SOLDIER avoiding using magic on it, knowing that in general it rarely ended well. He put it all in another room, so House could get it back without any problem. He had to rearrange the rest of the bedroom furniture slightly, but half an hour later, everything was arranged to his liking, making him snickers softly. For some reason, the round beds were very popular among the SOLDIERS who formed couples of three or more, and it would be perfect for his guests. There was even room to add both Rhapsodos and Hewley to it… if the latter had still been alive, he thought with a slight sigh. The old SOLDIER had no idea how the silverette would react exactly when he brought back the pyromaniac little shit… even if he doubted that apart from passing him the scolding of the century, Sephiroth would probably not harm him… or in any case nothing permanent. Rhapsodos certainly deserved a good kick in the ass, but, according to Caroline, he was about as responsible for his actions as the silverette.
Nodding with satisfaction, he came out of the room, closing the door behind him. Unfortunately, Fair couldn't eat anything solid tonight, but a sachet of mashed potato would do the trick. It wasn't worth the homemade, sure, but it would probably be better than soup for the boy. The poor man was going to have to support this diet for the next two days, even if he could start adding solid pieces the next day.
Returning to the kitchen, he stopped briefly to watch the children play, amused. Sephiroth spent a lot of time looking at the controller, obviously trying to get used to the fact that he had to press different buttons to do actions, not to mention the directional sticks to move and move the camera. Good thing Caroline chose a rather… slow game, in a way, about gameplay. It allowed him to get used to it more easily than with another game with very nervous gameplay like Hellus of Singnar, which asked to be able to react very quickly, on pain of being eliminated by the opponents. The woman was doing well in the game, despite everything, having learned from him, even if it wasn't her favorite.
Leaving them to play, he set about preparing the meal. His guests would soon be able to manage without him for a few days… even if he didn't planned to be away for long. He would also have to get his hands on explosives to get Rhapsodos out of his hole, he noted mentally as he made dessert. Most people were surprised to learn that he was a very good cook when he bothered… and many SOLDIERS had run after him in the hope of taking advantage of his cooking skills… or so that he could teach them to cook. The food in the SOLDIER cafeteria was better than that of the army or the cadets… but nothing beats a real cook. And everyone agreed on this point.
oOo
Sephiroth turned his head when he felt Zack sag against him for the third time in less than ten minutes. The young man might insist that he wasn't tired… the silverette could see that he was finding it increasingly difficult to stay awake. It may have been early… but it was clear that the Puppy needed rest. Even if he or Caroline had trouble falling asleep early… being all three again would help. In any case, he hoped for it. Turning back, he returned to the last raised stone he had activated, and saved the game. He then passed the controller to Caroline, so that she could show him how to turn off her console. The silverette… had to admit that he sincerely appreciated what they had done today. He knew that it was an important part of his two companions' activities… and he had always wanted to try, regretting that his workload didn't allow him to do so.
Zack emerged when the young woman turned off the console, softly protesting that he wanted to see more. She leaned over Sephiroth, giggling gently, kissing him.
"We'll continue tomorrow, Zack. I think you don't want to miss half the story, do you? And then there is time to play. There's no need to rush."
"That's right," admitted the concerned. "It's just that… I've spent so much time in bed already… even though I know I was unconscious…"
"That you don't want to go back again," said the silverette gently, watching him nod. "Do not worry, Zack, before long you'll be frolicking again as before… and I must admit that I look forward to that day too," he confessed.
Zack chuckled, blushing slightly.
"Frustrated, Seph?"
The latter snorted with a slight smile.
"In your opinion, Zack? Even if it's certainly not worth your own frustration, I must have something like two weeks of abstinence behind me, almost three. Even if I am completely capable of controlling myself… I must admit that I look forward to resuming our activities."
Caroline nodded with a sigh, drawing their attention.
"It's the same for me," she admitted softly. "Before we became a couple, Zack… sex was frankly the last of my concerns. Even with my ex, I had done almost nothing. But in recent years… I have missed you both enormously… and in every way."
The thoughtful silence stretched for a few seconds, before the silverette gently took matters into his own hands.
"In any case, Zack, we better go to bed. House… said you shouldn't be pushing too hard when you're released, right? Pushing yourself beyond your limits… will delay your recovery."
The Puppy sighed, defeated.
"It's true. I can't wait for all of that to be behind us… even if I'm worried about Cloud. The fact that he found his childhood friend is good… but I worry about him," he confessed as Sephiroth helped him get up. "You really don't hold it against him, Seph?" He asked hesitantly. "For… you know?"
The concerned man shook his head gently, supporting the young man.
"Not at all," he replied. "And I can totally… understand that he never forgives me for what I did. I deserve it, in a way."
"But," Zack replied softly, cautiously putting one foot in front of the other. "You weren't yourself that day, it's not your fault. Uh… Seph?"
"Mmmh?" The concerned absently replied.
"What are you doing?" Asked the black haired man in confusion, making Sephiroth freeze.
Indeed, the silverette had started absently rubbing the angle of his jaw on Zack's spiky hair, not even realizing it before the latter drew his attention to his actions. Caroline looked at them with amusement, finding Sephiroth's gesture particularly cute, because it made him look more like a cat. And their confused expressions… were really hilarious, making her smile without being able to help it.
"I… do not know ?" He replied with confusion, disoriented.
"I think… that you were trying to… "scent" Zack with your smell," said their partner gently, approaching them and drawing their attention. "Kind of like cats do with the people they like."
"Really?" Asked the Puppy, puzzled.
"Dogs use another way to mark members of their pack, Zack," she chuckled. "When I tell you that Seph is the cat of the two of you… it's a little bit because of that kind of behavior that I'm talking about. He's just missing the licking."
Sephiroth felt his cheeks heat despite himself under the effect of embarrassment… even if Caroline seemed to consider that normal. He was pulled from his thoughts by the young woman's hand on his, the latter looking at him tenderly.
"Does that help you, Seph?" She asked gently.
The concerned hesitated for a few seconds, before nodding hesitantly.
"Does that… really not bother you?" He asked hesitantly.
Caroline smiled sweetly at him, squeezing his hand gently.
"You've been doing it to me since the first night you arrived," she replied with a slight loving smile. "You probably didn't even realize it I think. So that means it's important to you, in a way, if it helps you feel better. And you did it very often also before Nibelheim, when we were just the two of us."
"Oh…" weakly said the silverette. "I see. I think."
Slowly, he resumed what he had been doing, continuing to "scent" Zack, as Caroline had said, gradually relaxing despite the fact that he was now aware of his actions. And he had to admit that this gesture actually relaxed him, comforting him. Helping him to… make sure Zack was there? Sephiroth wasn't entirely sure yet. But he didn't want to stop right away. And after the first moment of surprise… Zack let him do so. Still slightly baffled by the act, but accepting it without problem. He had to admit that Sephiroth had always made him think of a giant cat, just like Genesis, but accentuated by his eyes and his graceful way of moving. Like a predator.
Finally, they arrived in the bedroom, sighing in relief at the new bed, even if Caroline giggled when she saw it. She knew it existed… but it was the first time she had seen one in real life. Turning after a few moments, she snickered, unable to help it. The silverette had sat on the edge of the bed, the Puppy on his lap, and continued to absentmindedly rub his jaw on his head, also passing on the side of his face, as well as his neck, Zack wearing an expression of amused resignation. Getting closer, she caught Sephiroth's eyes, who paused when he realized his position… but clearly reluctant to let go of Zack.
"Do you want to sleep in a certain way, Seph?" Caroline asked softly.
The latter hesitated, thinking. Until then… both of them had slept in a t-shirt and underwear. But he had to admit… that the barrier had bothered him, in a sense, for the past few days. However… if what the young woman said was right… it was probably because he couldn't properly put his scent on her. Usually… she was the one who took the initiative to join him naked, because that meant that she wanted sex, the code developed with Zack first. If she was dressed… it was that she didn't want to. And he always respected her wish, and the code that was put in place. When they had clothes on… it just meant it would be a night of cuddles, nothing more. And even though he had woken up with an erection this morning… he didn't really want sex yet. What he wanted above all… was contact.
Softly, he explained it to his lovers, and they nodded gently, easily understanding what he was trying to explain awkwardly, words failing him sometimes. Sephiroth and Caroline accompany Zack in the bathroom, the latter still unable to walk alone, getting ready for the night, then slip under the sheets, completely naked.
As usual when the three of them slept together, Caroline was between her two companions, huddled in their powerful arms. Closing his eyes with a sigh of relief, the silverette gently rubbed his jaw against the young woman's hair, making her giggle wearily. Putting his arm around Zack, the ex-general opened weary eyes when he felt him do the same, their gazes meeting. Silently exchanging their relief from being together again. Part of Sephiroth would have liked to feel them surrounding him… but the rest wanted to feel their partner between them, in safety. To be sure no one would hurt her. Zack slowly bent forward, coming to kiss the silverette tenderly, before depositing a kiss on their lover's neck, making her sigh with bliss. She also wrapped her arm around Sephiroth.
Slowly, he relaxed, closing his eyes again, savoring their presence. They were there again, in arm's reach… and they would never disappear again. The three of them slipped into sleep without even realizing it, comforted by the presence of each other. Their bonds were slowly strengthening, boosted by physical contact, even if they weren't intimate yet. It would come soon enough, and they knew it unconsciously.
To be continued…
Where does this game profile come from on Chuck's console? Surprise surprise ;) You will know soon enough ^^
And is Sephiroth going to become a gamer? Of course ^^ He has every right to learn to play... which Hojo has always denied him. Depriving him of a lot of experience made by most people as they grow up. Video games, and games altogether, were probably considered useless by this madman, unless they have an educational aim. Not anymore! ^^ Seph will learn that you can play to relax!