Author's Notes: Yeah, Zack is older in this fic than he is actually in game. Brought to you by Monster Energy Drinks.

Theme: He

I Remember

Not since that day had Reeve ever seen that child again, not in person at least. The next day Sephiroth had been enrolled into SOLDIER and had quickly climbed through the ranks. Before he had made General the war in Wutai had reached such a level that the silver haired prodigy had been shipped to war. During his many battles the male almost a decade younger than the future executive had been promoted to General. Even then Reeve did not see him, but he had heard the stories.

There were stories about every facet of Sephiroth, for he'd become some sort of legend. Most of them Reeve could easily dismiss like the rumor of him eating chocobo feathers to move faster. Yet some were impossible for the dark haired male to ignore. Stories about the coldness of the General hurt him, and worse was the tales of the promiscuity of the man. All the SOLDIERS, elite or otherwise, spoke of how the General would regard no one and never let fall his stony mask of indifference. Younger members 'oohed' and 'awed' over the latest conquests of the silver haired angel. Part of Reeve was almost glad he hadn't met the General at all. Except he knew it would not last.

In the years since his first and last meeting with a silver-haired youth, he'd found Hojo was a man of his word. As the professor had said, he had been kept away from Sephiroth completely. He had been sent from Hojo's tutelage, not only effectively removing him from any potential sight of the youth he'd found himself infatuated with, he'd also postponed his chances at the job Reeve had desired. Industrious as ever the man had set about working harder, only to achieve the rank he desired a week AFTER Sephiroth was shipped off to Wutai.

Yet now, now he had a chance for a reunion of some sort. The war had officially ended and the General was shipped home. A military ball was to be held to celebrate, and the Assistant to the Head of Urban Development was due to join in with the festivities. Not only would Reeve get to see the man that the boy he had cared for had grown into, but he might have a chance at more…

He was there now, clad in a suit and feeling rather awkward at such a formal event, sitting patiently at his table with a frown in place. Unlike most of the others present he wasn't that kind of man. All he had was a mug of coffee, knowing he wouldn't drink this night if he could avoid doing so.

"Well, well, long time no see," a voice said at his shoulder before a SOLDIER, decked out in his full, level one, dress uniform. The man was only seven years his junior, making him two years Sephiroth's senior. Yet the two had started in SOLDIER at the same time and the older one had climbed through the ranks nearly as fast but never with as much praise. Reeve, unlike others, saw him merely as the ever happy, irritating kid who he'd grown up in the same town as. While a friendship had been forged between them when the youth was in SOLDIER-training (reinforcing the already existing bonds of the cousins) they had been separated since Zack was shipped to Wutai.

Reeve nodded, "I see you made first class."

"Yeah, field promotion by Sephiroth himself. Kinda saved his reckless ass a few times, and not only in regular combat." Here the SOLDIER grinned. He was almost always smiling. "I see you've gone up in the world as well."

"Finally, and only a week after you left Zack. I think you're just bad luck for me," the future-executive teased.

"Well damn," Zack chuckled, readily taking the joke. "So… Why are you just sitting around? You could be dancing with Scarlet you know…"

"SCARLET?" the older male yelped. "What the HELL are you thinking Zack?"

The porcupine haired youth laughed for a while before growing serious. Reeve really wasn't used to how fast Zack could change to this serious mode, and was even less accustomed to just how serious the male got. While the blue-eyed Gongagan sat the same -legs spread, arm thrown over the back of the chair, everything about him radiating relaxation- his eyes grew like stone, and deathly serious. Even the jovial tone changed, becoming darker with more of a cold age.

"Cuz, you can't do this to yourself. Pining away for someone is one of the most foolish things possible. Hell, I'm as ready to admit as the next straight guy that he is hot as hell, and probably sweats an aura of sex and all, but you've gotta let that go. He's a use-them-and-lose-them guy, which you deserve far more than. Sadly, he wouldn't give you the time of day, or remember your name, no matter how much of a past you have. Scarlet, on the other hand…"

"Is a bitch," Reeve grumbled.

"Actually likes you. Better to find a girl like her to fuck until you get over this infatuation," the SOLDIER continued without pause.

The future-executive sighed and looked at his friend, whose eyes were softening again. "You just want him for yourself," Reeve said, unconvinced with his own accusation.

Instead of shaking his head, Zack merely grinned, "Naw. I have this great girlfriend."

Reeve rolled his eyes, "Zack, you are impossible."

"That is what they all say," the younger man laughed.

"Do you ever shut up? I bet you snore far too loudly for comfort."

"He does," a sweet tenor tone came from behind Reeve. Great, last thing he needed was some SOLDIER was listening in on theirconversation.

"Don't mind him Reeve. He doesn't know what he's talking about," the dark haired male laughed.

"On the contrary Zackary, I am quite familiar with your snoring. I wouldn't be surprised if half of the insomnia experienced by the battalion was caused by you," the voice said, quite sure of itself. "I would bet any insomnia in Midgar since our return is the fault of your snoring as well."

Reeve had seen Zack pick fights for less than that, especially if it was aimed at another person, so the fact that he couldn't even see any of the familiar tensing in Zack was disturbing.

"Like I said, don't mind him. Contrary to popular opinion Seph does have a sense of humor, rare as it is."

It took the man maybe five seconds to translate the 'Seph' to Zack's favorite term of 'Sephy' and finally to the proper 'Sephiroth'. Once this hit him, Reeve jumped to his feet to regard the General.

"Sir," the male said, only to be met by a hand raised in minor irritation.

"I've had enough of that today, so I don't need my equals calling me 'sir'," the silver haired one said.

The idea was actually quaint, being equals. Both did report directly to the executive of their apartment, Reeve to that of Urban Development, and Sephiroth to Heidegger. Yet how could plain old Reeve be equal to the great General?

Sephiroth was far from the small child Reeve once held in his arms. The General was taller than Reeve at this point, clad in a dark blue uniform so dark it was almost black, that fit his well muscled and yet still slender body far too well. While Sephiroth's hair had once only fallen to his chin, the molten silver strains now cascaded down his back. Even the emotion filled eyes had changed, making themselves cold and hard, worse than those of any Turk. Reeve almost trembled, half in fearful shock, half in joyous awe of what the younger man had matured into.

"Of course General," Reeve said after a moment of hesitation.

Zack rolled his eyes and stood. He gave Reeve a disbelieving look. "Man Sephy, he just doesn't get it does he? I swear that he was smarter when we left. Maybe getting ranks killed his brain."

The silver haired male almost cracked a smile. Almost.

"My name is Sephiroth, you called me it once you know."

Reeve almost grinned. The man remembered him.

"And I would prefer you call it again," the General finished.

"Of course Sephiroth, how silly of me to think otherwise."

Zack raised an eyebrow. "Wait, am I missing something here?"

"Aren't you always?" Reeve asked, his retort quick as ever, but surprising him nonetheless.

"Yeah, but I don't like missing out on things my two best friends know about, especially when it involves the two of them."

"Remember that story I told you about my birthday?"

Zack nodded, "Yeah man."

"It was Reeve."

The SOLDIER looked back and forth between them in shock before smirking. Yet before either the future-executive or Sephiroth could read, the dark haired male fled, laughing wildly for some unknown reason.

"You grew up with him correct?" Sephiroth asked.

"Yeah," Reeve responded, "And before you ask, yes, he's always been like this."

"He's too perky for my liking," the General admitted. In silence they watched their mutual friend in his attempts to woo a beautiful woman.

"And sadly he actually thinks he can get the girls to like him," the older male said as Zack earned a slap for his efforts and moved smoothly on to his n ext bit of prey.

"Would you like to get a drink?" Sephiroth finally asked to break the silence. "Maybe catch up a bit…"

"Hojo wouldn't like that much."

The General glared down at the male, before his expression softened. "His opinion doesn't matter."

So Reeve nodded and followed the legendary warrior to the bar, hoping that eventually Zack would meet up with them. Then again… He was always messing stuff up. Maybe he should just hope Zack didn't come. Reeve didn't want his chance of renewing friendship with the silver haired beauty….