Author's Note: Well, this chapter was a long time in coming ... I have to admit, I was stuck for a while, without much inspiration to get it started. But I finally broke down and made up an outline for the remainder of the storyline so I knew where I was going. Trust me, it helps a lot! But even so, this was a difficult chapter to start. I ended up abandoning my original beginning scene in favor of what I have now, because it did absolutely nothing for the chapter.
Figuring out the initial interactions for Sephiroth and Zack was also quite the challenge. But I hope they've turned out well! I really tried to keep things realistic, as usual.
On a side note, FF(dot)Net gets an Uncool Point for not allowing the use of more than one punctuation mark (like an exclamation point and a question mark). So, if any sentences seem strange with the punctuation they have, try imagining both there. Two punctuation marks are an acceptable form of ending a sentence in literature, thank you very much, FF(dot)Net.
Chapter Nine
The Shadows of Daybreak
Why!
The scream echoed through the darkness, anguished, heartbroken, and utterly confused.
Why, Sephiroth? Why did you do it?
Gaia, Seph, all those people … They never did anything, and you just murdered them all, in their homes, every last one … How could you! How could …
What happened to you? My b-best friend … I don't … I don't get it. What did you find in that library that made you hate us? That made you hate me …
I guess it must've been something absolutely horrible, because I … I just don't see how anything could have made you want to … to …
I didn't want to fight you, Seph! I never did. But after what you did … How could I not? How could I just let you go? Fighting you was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. Even after killing Angeal … That didn't even compare. I couldn't believe it … Even as I choked on the smoke and fire, even as I walked up those steps, even as I turned my blade against you … None of it was real. It wasn't happening, couldn't be happening …!
But … but somehow, it was.
I wanted so badly to wake up. I wished … I wished with every fiber of my being that I would open my eyes and see you there with that concerned look on your face, and I would laugh about walking back in the rain one too many times and about the crazy nightmare it caused …
I tried to wake up. Oh, how I tried, so hard, to open my eyes …
But I couldn't.
Was it this Jenova, Seph, that made you do it? Did you really think she was your mother?
What weakness struck you that you would actually believe that? It's … it's insane. I just don't know …
And even if you did believe that, why would it make you do such a thing? Wasn't there something you could have told me? Was there something I should have done? I wish you'd said something …
I wish … Oh, Gaia …
Did you know … you killed me on that day, Sephiroth? What you did to me … it tore out my heart.
Well, my body's still alive, I think … If you can call this living.
I did wake up from that nightmare … But what I woke up to … I wish I was still dead.
Everything's green … I … Gaia, this can't be happening …
I woke up … in a tube, Seph! It's filled with Mako! It's not even possible to survive in here, is it? And Hojo … Hojo's on the other side!
What does he think he's doing? He won't let me out! But I'm a SOLDIER! I'm with ShinRa! He can't do this! They'll stop him … Someone's got to come and stop him! He can't really keep me here, can he?
You aren't gonna leave me with him, are you, Seph? You can't … He's mad. I dunno what he's gonna do, but …
I don't want to be here! I just wanna go home … Why won't they let me …
Why, Sephiroth? Why did it come to this!
My best friend … my life … Nibelheim … everything … is gone.
Seph …
Why did you do it?
Zack abruptly woke with a gasp, his eyes flying open. He lay there for a moment, staring at the darkened bulkhead of the ceiling, the erratic rhythm of his breathing loud in his ears. Remnants of the dream ran through his mind.
… I still don't … understand why.
With a shake of the head, he rolled to the side, sitting up and rubbing his eyes … and paused at the feeling of wetness on his cheeks.
… What? … Tears …? Annoyed, he scrubbed them away. Man, that dream must've affected me more than I thought. Get over it, Zack. It's over.
It's really over …
He sat for a moment, trying to let the concept sink in. Then he gave himself a good pinch. There was a sharp pain and, satisfied that he probably wasn't still dreaming, he rubbed his arm and slowly stood, stretching. Despite the dream, he had to admit that he felt … good. Really good, no aches or pains, and completely refreshed, something he hadn't truly felt since …
Yeah, don't wanna think about it.
Seph always could work wonders with a Restore materia. And speaking of Seph …
Padding into the small living room, Zack, rather cautiously, poked his head around the corner to see into the other bedroom.
It was empty. A quick check of the rest of the quarters did not reveal the man, either. Zack frowned.
Where would he have gone?
Despite wanting to know where Sephiroth was, Zack was somewhat relieved that he didn't have to face him right away. It was strange … What was he supposed to do – what was he supposed to say? – to someone who'd caused so much pain and suffering? Last night was … well, it was a start, but where was he supposed to go from there? He felt confident enough that Seph was no longer insane, but … could he really just go back to what they used to be before? Was it really that easy?
At least he'd have the chance to collect himself and freshen up before going to find the man. He felt … off, somehow, as if the universe had yanked a rug out from underneath his feet, and he was still stumbling along, trying to catch his balance.
He was still in something of a daze through the quick shower. He slowly ran his hands along the numerous surgical scars that lined his arms and chest, really noticing them for the first time in a long time. Most of them had memories attached to them, procedures that he had still been conscious for …
Tracing a long, pale line along the inside of his left forearm, Zack mused, That one was where Hojo wanted to find out whether … Abruptly shaking his head, he stopped the memory in its tracks, before the flash of horror could overwhelm him. Don't need to think about it.
Angrily, he stepped from the shower, running a quick towel through his hair. What was it all for? Did Hojo even have a point with everything? What did he do, that I don't know about?
Deciding he didn't want to dwell on it, he glanced in the mirror and attempted to straighten his mess of hair by combing his fingers through it. It was longer than he normally wore it, falling to the middle of his shoulder blades, and ragged from his attempt to cut it once on the run with Cloud, when he'd finally gotten fed up. There'd been no chance to cut it during the labs, after all. He remembered the feel of the thick Mako clinging to it and weighing his head down every time they took him from the tube, and shuddered. Maybe he'll cut it short this time.
Frowning, he considered his reflection. Was this really the image of someone who'd been experimented on for four years, died, and then came back to life? You couldn't tell, if you ignored the scars. Aside from the hair, he looked the same as he had before leaving for Nibelheim. Leaning closer, he gazed into his eyes. Yep, still purple! They'd been bright green when he'd first escaped from the tanks, so bright that they'd illuminated the darkened rooms of the mansion like a small flashlight. He remembered having to close his eyes at times and navigate solely by sound, in order to not give away his, and Cloud's, position.
It had been rather unnerving just how successful he'd been at doing that.
Idly, he wondered how old he was supposed to be now. Did the four or five years he'd spent in the Lifestream count? What about the four years as Hojo's guinea pig? He wasn't sure he'd aged at all during that time. Maybe all that Mako had done something to him.
If you counted all the years, he'd be … about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Though he still looked eighteen, his age when everything had come to an end.
Zack shook his head. It didn't matter anymore, anyway. In fact, he was going to do his best to forget, all of it. He refused to let it weigh him down! He was going to bring back that optimistic part of himself that had so often gone into hibernation during the past. It was time to start over again.
Strolling back to his room, he donned the only clothes he seemed to have at the moment – the white garments the medical bay had left him with. He noticed a set of white slippers on the floor this time, and smirked – Seph had probably gone to fetch them from where he'd missed them earlier.
He shoved his feet into them and headed for the door. He'd have to ask Seph where his uniform had gone to – he certainly didn't want to parade around in this all day! Besides, the thin material didn't do much to keep away the chilly air.
Zack wandered for a good thirty minutes before finally finding Sephiroth in a moderately sized room occupied by several computer terminals and desks. He would have been there sooner had he not stopped at almost every open doorway to gaze, fascinated, at all the strange machinery and activities beyond them, and every window to peer out onto the incredible star-speckled blackness of space.
So this is what a spaceship is like … Just … wow.
Seph currently faced away from him, occupied with something on the computer. Information and images scrolled across the screen, illuminating his face. Zack had meant to saunter into the room as normal, but the sight of his friend sitting there made him pause at the doorway.
It was … surreal. After so long, to see him sitting there, normally, as if it was just another day at the office … it was both wonderful and frightening, all at once. He'd been gone for so many years. All Zack had known had been questions and doubt and horror, fear and hatred … He would have never thought he could hate Seph for anything, but he had come to, for what he'd done, for what he had allowed himself to become. It was … dark, the pit that Zack had fallen into.
He felt that black creature stir in his heart and pushed it away. Seph was back. Those days were over. He wasn't going to think about them anymore. He wasn't.
Yet … he hesitated, as he gazed at the back of Sephiroth's head, watching the light glint off his silver hair. He didn't know how to approach him.
He didn't know how long he stood there, but abruptly, Sephiroth turned to face him, perhaps alerted by some sixth sense, and he stared into the cool, green eyes.
They froze him, burning into him, peeling back the layers until his soul was exposed, bare and vulnerable before those eyes. Thin lips twisted in scorn at what they saw, making Zack want to curl up and die in shame. And then the smooth blade of steel slid into his heart, cold and hard, and he gasped in agony …
"… Zack? Are you alright?"
Zack started, realizing that Sephiroth had been speaking to him for a few moments now. He shook his head, banishing the memory.
"Yeah … No, I'm fine." Sephiroth was now standing, not bothering to hide his concern. "So, uh …" Zack trailed off, not sure what he was planning to say.
"… Did you sleep well? You've been out for another full day." Sephiroth watched him closely, trying to pick up on any cues that would let him know how Zack was really feeling.
Really? That long? "Huh. Yeah, I guess. I feel fine. Great, actually." There was a pause. "Uh … thanks for the Restore …"
Sephiroth nodded. After another moment of examining the young SOLDIER, he gestured to a chair next to him. "Come, sit. There's a lot we need to go over … if you feel up to it."
Sephiroth noticed an instantaneous flash of panic move through Zack's eyes, before it was gone, replaced by caution. Warily, Zack glanced around the room and back out the hallway, before hesitantly advancing to take the chair. He moved it so he would be facing both the rest of the room and the open doorway simultaneously, then slowly sank down. Sephiroth frowned at the actions, wondering if they were due to his presence or something else.
Zack remained tense, as he watched Sephiroth. What did he want to talk about? Probably about what had happened, Nibelheim and all … but what would be the point? What could he do, apologize? He'd done that already, hadn't he? And Zack didn't want to talk about it, not yet. It was too soon … He was afraid he'd break down, or blow up, or … or … something, he really wasn't sure. He just didn't know how you recovered from something of that magnitude.
If only it hadn't happened … Couldn't they just move on?
"Zack … I …" Sephiroth hesitated, trying to determine how best to begin. "I want to apologize again. I know my words are too few and too shallow to make any sort of amends … but they're all I have to offer."
"Seph, I already said you don't have to, I mean, it's my fault just as much as yours-"
Sephiroth held up a hand. "Just … hear me out, Zack. I don't want you to accept my apology, not yet. Not until you've had the time to think about it."
Zack swallowed. He didn't want to think about it.
"I will give you your space, as much as I can. I don't expect us to be … as close as we once were, much as I would wish it. I know it will take time to repair the damage that-" Sephiroth clenched a fist. "-I've caused."
"Seph …"
"If I could, I would leave and allow you the time to get your life back in order, but, as things stand now, we don't exactly have that option. However, if you wish …"
"Damn it, Seph!" A fist crashed down upon the desk, rattling it and startling the General. He stared at Zack; clearly the young SOLDIER had been startled too. Zack blinked, then his eyes dropped, sliding to the floor. "Look, I …" he began, quietly. "… I know you're just as upset about things as I am. So quit talking like I'm the only one affected. Yeah, sure, things'll be as awkward as heck for a while, but …" He raised his eyes again. "We can work through them, right? Just … don't try to avoid me, 'cause you somehow think it's better for me. I didn't go through everything just for you to walk away."
Just … don't forget me, okay?
Sephiroth considered him for a moment, then allowed himself a small smile, and nodded. "Alright."
"… So … still friends, right?" Zack gave him a hesitant smile, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
His own smile softened. Absolutely. "Yes, Zack. Still friends."
Zack beamed, and as silence fell between them, his attention was drawn to the images on the computer screen. "… Whatcha got there?"
It seemed now was as good a time as any to explain things. "Hm. You are aware that we are no longer on Gaia, correct?"
Zack blinked. "Uh … yeah. Yeah! We're on a spaceship, right? That's what Yori said. Can you believe it? I'm still not sure I can …"
A nod and a small, amused smirk. "What else did he tell you?"
Zack shrugged. "He told me about the planet we landed on and how we got here. And about his home planet … That was pretty much it, really."
"And what did you tell him?"
"Oh … a bit about Gaia, I guess. Told him about Gongaga and Midgar."
"That's it? Anything about ShinRa or SOLDIER?"
"Nah … I didn't really feel like talking about them. … Why? What's going on?"
Sephiroth hesitated, trying to determine the best way to express his concerns, as vague as they were. "I'd rather keep Markos in the dark about our planet, and SOLDIER, as much as possible. Though he did rescue us from Dak'tar IV, we really don't know anything about him. I'm not sure how much he can be trusted."
"… But if he couldn't be trusted, why did he rescue us? I dunno, I thought he seemed alright."
"I … don't know. Call it a feeling."
"A feeling, huh?" Zack shook his head, amused. "Well, alright. I guess if your Sephiroth-senses are tingling, there must be something to it!"
Sephiroth grunted in response, though was privately glad to see that Zack felt comfortable enough to crack a joke.
"How did we get here, anyway? We were in the Forgotten City, last I remember! I still think I must be dreaming."
Sephiroth shook his head. "I wish I knew. The best I have been able to figure out is that the Lifestream must have brought us here, somehow. Though where 'here' is in relation to Gaia …" A shrug. "That's something I have yet to figure out." He went on to explain his theories that either Gaia was another planet, some unknown distance away, or that Dak'tar IV was indeed Gaia, placing them either in the future, the past, or some alternate reality. That was, unless something drastic had happened to the planet between their last battle and the time they awoke.
"… Wow, and I thought I watched too many science fiction movies."
"Hmph. Do you have any other explanation?"
"… Well, no. But still, you've gotta admit that all that sounds pretty crazy."
"Insanity seems to be the rule of the day, lately," Sephiroth commented, wryly.
Zack gave a humorless chuckle. "Isn't that the truth. … So, how do we get home?"
Sephiroth gave him a look. "You know as well as I do what the answer to that is."
"Let me guess … No idea?"
"Indeed."
Zack stared at the tabletop, running a thumb along its edge. This wasn't exactly how he had hoped to come back to life. Not that he knew it would occur in the first place, but one would think that he could have at least been put down on his own home planet. Now there'd be no more visiting Cloud. Angeal and Aerith somehow seemed so much farther away. He vaguely remembered Aerith's voice receding into the cold distance, and now thought he knew why. He shivered.
"Well … guess that's not so bad. I mean, who wouldn't want to fly a spaceship and visit other planets, right?" He attempted to force some optimism into his voice.
Sephiroth laid a hand gently upon Zack's shoulder, causing the young man to start. "We'll find a way back, Zack. I promise."
Zack brought his eyes up to meet Seph's, as the other SOLDIER removed his hand. "Yeah," he grinned, half-heartedly. "I know." Then he frowned as something occurred to him. "Why don't we just go back to Dak'tar IV? Maybe something there will help tell us where we are or how we got here. If anything would hold the answers, that planet would, right?"
His friend nodded. "I would think so. But, according to Yori, we are prevented from returning just yet by the presence of a group called the Imperials."
At Zack's perplexed expression, he continued, gesturing to the computer screen. "While you were recovering, I've been doing as much research as I could about this area, and the state of its government. Believe it or not, we are now looking upon things at a galactic scale. It is not only a single planet we need to concern ourselves with, or even a solar system … but the entire galaxy.
"The leading government, until relatively recently, was the Galactic Empire. It didn't control the whole galaxy – there are still large pockets of space either unexplored or under the control of other governments, much like ShinRa and Wutai, respectively, on our own planet – but it remained the most powerful government controlling the majority of space. Twelve years ago, many of the star systems rebelled, and overthrew the Emperor. He was killed, but as you can imagine, the Empire was far from dead."
Sephiroth shook his head. "To make a long story short, the rebels established their own government, the New Republic, and the two factions have been battling it out ever since. The Imperials – members of the ruling Empire – have been pushed out of many of the systems they used to control. It seems that they've fragmented for the most part, but are still a dangerous force to be reckoned with.
"It was they who also landed on Dak'tar IV, and who Yori insists that we need to stay away from. I won't say that I fully understand his reasons, but if they are truly dangerous to us, then it is clear that Yori's ship would not be able to survive a direct confrontation with them. Their ships are simply too powerful and too many."
Sephiroth paused to allow Zack to process everything he'd said.
"Wow … So … we're in the middle of a war? Which side is the good guys?"
"I don't know enough yet to say. According to the rebels, the Empire was evil and corrupt. You know as well as I do what such an organization will do. Yet, we also know that the majority of the organization can still be good. And we know the reckless destruction and death that a "rebellion" can cause. Often, they are nothing more than terrorists, regardless of how noble they believe their own cause to be."
Zack nodded, slowly, thinking of the horrible damage and needless death that the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE had caused under their leader Elfé. He knew ShinRa had its faults, but it had never warranted what AVALANCHE had done. Had the President merely been replaced with someone more capable and compassionate, ShinRa would not have been a bad organization at all.
"I do not want us to become involved in this war. Frankly, it is none of our concern – we just need to figure out a way to get home. As long as we steer clear of either the Imperials or the New Republic, we shouldn't have a problem. The fact that Markos seems able to travel around freely, for the most part, indicates that private citizens are able to move as they please."
"Okay, steer clear of the squabbling governments, check. But how do we go about finding a way home, if we can't go back to Dak'tar?"
"We can go back … just not at the moment. Markos doesn't believe that the Imperials will stay too long on the planet, once they realize there's nothing there. In the meantime, we either consider ourselves his guests and are stuck with him, or head out on our own …"
"… Which is probably not the brightest thing to do, considering the circumstances, eh?"
Sephiroth shook his head in response.
"But shouldn't there be some other place we can find information about the planet? I mean, someone's got to have studied it. Even if it is only the history and not how it's able to beam up people from the Lifestream."
"Exactly. And if we are in the future, then there should be mention of our civilization." Sephiroth tapped a few keys and brought something else up on the computer screen. It was a planet, and even as Zack watched, information written with strange symbols scrolled up next to it. "The database to which Markos has access has no mention of Dak'tar IV. But there are, apparently, vast libraries in existence that might contain some useful information."
Sephiroth tapped the planet, and suddenly, the previously barren desktop that Zack had been leaning against brightened to life. He jerked back, startled.
A three-dimensional, holographic display of the planet flickered into being, floating above the table's surface. The hologram, which had a bluish cast to it, slowly rotated, foreign symbols once again appearing at its sides. Zack stared, entranced. As he leaned closer, he could make out the precise details of the planet's surface. Tiny lights appeared to glimmer from what looked like a continuous landscape of miniature skyscrapers, as the occasional wispy cloud drifted past.
"Wow …"
"The planet Coruscant, which is currently the capital of the New Republic, holds a massive library … here." Sephiroth tapped a location on the rotating sphere, causing the display to quickly zoom in on the area. He isolated a building at the center of the new landscape, bringing it to the forefront of the display, and causing everything else to begin leisurely spinning around it. The building itself, a construction of towering minarets and expansive domes, was set apart from surrounding skyscrapers, lending it an air of importance.
Zack didn't know what he should comment on first – the amazing holographic display, or the fact that the entire planet was a thick forest of buildings and towers. Curiously, he poked his finger into the library building. Abruptly, the building retreated, zooming back to its place among the skyscrapers and leaving the planet in its stead.
"Hey! No, wait, that's not what I …" Poking again at the spot where he thought the library had vanished, he instead brought up a different building. Multiple tries brought the same result, sending various structures zooming in and back out. "… Oops," he finally commented, sheepishly. "Sorry, Seph. I dunno where it went."
Amused, Sephiroth waved a hand in dismissal. "That is just one of the libraries. The other most promising one is the Expeditionary Library." Sephiroth brought up a new planet. "Markos himself recommended this one, as both it and Dak'tar IV are located within the Unknown Regions. This library is on a planet called Csilla, deep within Chiss Space. The people there apparently maintain extensive records on every planet they have encountered; it's not unrealistic that they would have come across Dak'tar IV at one point in time."
In stark contrast to the capital world of Coruscant, Csilla was smooth and barren. Zack frowned, his eyes scanning the surface for any signs of civilization. "Where …?"
"Csilla is a frozen planet, covered in glaciers and snow. The library – as well as the entire civilization – exists beneath the ice."
"… Huh. So which one are we going to visit?" As amazing as a planet full of snow sounded, Csilla appeared positively forbidding. Zack was rather apprehensive at the idea of heading there; if their previous missions within the snowy wastes of the Northern Continent on Gaia were any sort of track record, they would likely be in for quite the frosty adventure.
Apparently Sephiroth held the same reservations. "I'd rather visit Coruscant first, if at all possible. But, as the capital of the New Republic, and on the border of the Deep Core where many of the Imperial Warlords have gone, it is probably a volatile area."
So, Csilla it was, then.
"However," Sephiroth continued, "it largely depends upon where Markos is willing to take us. Though he has expressed interest in Csilla, he has errands of his own. In short, we are at his mercy. I don't think he will go out of his way to take us somewhere, unless it also falls within his interests."
Zack bit his lip in thought. "… Do you think we oughta find our own transport there?"
Sephiroth shook his head. "Perhaps in time, but not just yet. We need to learn our way around the galaxy first."
"Yeah, guess you're right …" Zack idly watched the rotating representation of Csilla, before his attention was caught by the periodically changing display of symbols. He poked at them. "What're these? Can you tell what they mean?"
"Those …" Again, Sephiroth returned to the computer, calling up a chart of the various symbols. "Are Aurebesh characters. Aurebesh is the galactic standard alphabet, used to represent the language that we're speaking … which is simply called Basic, apparently." He pointed out the characters. "Surprisingly, it is equivalent to our own alphabet in most respects, aside from the addition of a few symbols." He glanced at Zack. "It would probably be a good idea for you to learn it."
Zack's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you've learned it already?"
A shrug. "For the most part. It really isn't that difficult."
Zack raised a skeptical eyebrow, as he examined the strange symbols. Clearly Sephiroth had his own definition of 'difficult.' "Come on, you don't really think we'll be here long enough to need to know how to read the local language?"
"I know we'll be at a disadvantage if we don't. We're lucky as it is that they actually speak the same language we do."
Zack blinked, not having realized that before now. "Hey, yeah, you're right … That's pretty weird, now that I think about it. What're the chances of that?"
Sephiroth shrugged. "It lends some support to the idea that maybe Gaia is not so far removed from our location in this galaxy."
"… You mean that someone from another planet around here might have traveled to Gaia before?"
"Perhaps." Sephiroth cast a glance back at Zack. "Jenova had, after all."
Zack's eyes widened. Jenova … He frowned, looking away in thought. If she'd come from another planet, did that mean that there were more of her, somewhere out here? Could there be an entire planet full of entities just like her? He shivered, not wanting to believe it could be true.
"I hope she was the only one," he said, quietly.
"As do I," Sephiroth agreed. Or that if there were more, that they would never have the misfortune to come across them. One such entity was enough for several lifetimes.
As Sephiroth returned his attention to browsing additional information on the screen, he finally noticed the tense way in which Zack gripped his arms, and realized that he hadn't yet gotten around to finding something warmer for the other SOLDIER to wear. He stood.
"It must be an indication of how deep in thought you are, if you haven't yet complained about the cold," he smirked. "Come on, let's find you something else to wear."
Momentarily taken aback at the sudden change in subject, Zack blinked, then jumped to his feet. "Yeah, where is my uniform? I was gonna ask about it, but I completely forgot! …" He trailed off at the hesitant look in Sephiroth's eyes. "… What?"
"Zack … Your uniform was destroyed."
He stared, uncomprehendingly. "It … what?"
"It was torn beyond repair, both by Jenova, and in salvaging material to bandage your wounds. There wasn't anything left anyone could do for it, so I had it destroyed."
His uniform … gone? Zack shook his head. That couldn't be right … It was practically all he'd worn since joining SOLDIER so many years ago. He couldn't imagine being without it. Surely there was some mistake? He supposed he could just grab a spare, but … there weren't any spares, were there? That one uniform was all he'd arrived with.
Sephiroth watched the turmoil across Zack's face. "… I'm sorry, Zack, but there wasn't anything I could do."
"Nah …" He looked up, flashed a grin. "It's just an old, ratty uniform, right? Not like I haven't been in dire need of something else to wear, after a whole year with that thing! No big deal. 'Sides, I'm done with ShinRa. And SOLDIER." Shrugging it off, he headed for the doorway. "Time for a change of pace."
After a moment, Sephiroth slowly followed. As true as Zack's words may have been, Sephiroth was also aware of something left unsaid – that the uniform, for all that it was the symbol of a corrupt, dying organization, was also one of the few ties he had left to a life, memories, and friends he had loved.
Zack fingered the sleeve of the new blue-gray outfit he wore. He felt distinctly out of place wearing the thing. A spare uniform from Yori's crew, it did look sharp, with its high collar and military cut. But he didn't care for the strange symbol on the arm, potentially marking him as one of Yori's crew, and in any case, he felt … naked, vulnerable in the thing. Too lightweight, texture too different, not enough pockets, not enough belts, too close-fitting … He tugged at the unfamiliar feel of the stiff collar. It was just so different from his SOLDIER uniform.
Too similar to SOLDIER's ceremonial uniform, he grimaced. Only without all the bells and whistles.
Well, at least it was warmer than the hospital garb he'd been wearing. It was still cool in here, but not nearly as uncomfortable as it had been. And, after rolling his shoulders and doing a couple of experimental squats, he concluded that it did seem to fit fine, without hindering his movement.
… I really do need a haircut, though. He eyed the length of it in the mirror. Not as bad as it could have been, but it definitely looked like someone had tried to hack it off with a giant, unwieldy sword in the middle of the night with his eyes closed. Well, I didn't have my eyes closed, but as for the rest …
He sighed. Maybe I should just tie it back for now. Experimentally, he gathered it at the back of his head … only to discover that it looked like the tail of a chocobo who'd gotten too close to an electric fence. Smirking, he shook his head and let the locks fall back to their original position. Nah. Haircut, it is, first barbershop we find! Idly, he wondered if they even had barbershops around here.
Stepping out of his room, he found Sephiroth waiting for him on the couch.
"So … what do you think?" He spread his arms
The former General raised an appraising eyebrow. "You look good."
"Really, ya think so? Does it bring out the color of my eyes?" He pointed to them, keeping a straight face.
Sephiroth grunted, shaking his head in amusement.
"What? I'm totally serious!"
"Hmph. … What do you think of it?"
Zack sobered, considering. "I think … it's definitely temporary." He shook his head. "There's no way I'm gonna go around wearing someone else's uniform, if I don't have to. If I'm gonna wear one, it's gotta be SOLDIER, or none at all. I wanna pick up something else at the first opportunity."
Sephiroth nodded. "I thought you might. I'll notify Yori; I'm sure we'll end up someplace with a suitable spaceport where we can find you something. In the meantime … I would say not to cut your hair so we can still tell you apart from the crew, but in your case …" He glanced over Zack's hair critically. "You might want to make an exception."
Zack rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in. Not my fault they don't have beauty parlors in the southern swamps!"
His friend smirked, then stood. "Come." He reached over to clap a hand on Zack's shoulder. "Let's find …" He broke off as Zack unexpectedly twitched away at the contact. His brow furrowed, and he shot the SOLDIER a questioning glance.
Zack seemed surprised himself. His eyes rose to meet Sephiroth's, then slid, guiltily, to the side. Sephiroth let his hand fall.
"… Let's find Yori," he continued. "And determine where it is we will go from here." Turning, and keeping his face carefully neutral, he swept out of the room.
"… Right behind ya, Seph," Zack murmured, glumly.
He thought things had been starting to go well … but it seemed some old habits die hard.
to be continued …