Broken Wings - Chapter Thirty Three
Sephiroth looked up from the last remnants of yesterday's papers, a firm knock disrupting his concentration. He sighed, he had wanted to get this done quickly and literally sweep Aralyn off her feet. He had heard of a new diner that was supposed to be nice…very dignified and classical. She would enjoy the calm, he wound enjoy the chance to repent.
The knock continued and he gave up. "Come in," he said, turning back to his papers.
He knew it was Zack without even looking up. "Hey, Seph!" his comrade called out in greeting. "Ooh…sorry about the papers. Looks like you're almost done."
"Hmm," Sephiroth hummed, thumbing through the stack in attempt to find the paper that corresponded to the one he now was working to complete. The Turks had arranged them out of order again.
"You up for a little exercise?" Zack asked, drawing his oversized sword with a flourish and resting it on his shoulder. "You've got to get out of this office or you'll go insane, and I still need my revenge from last time."
Sephiroth smiled, amused by the idea. "Revenge? And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
"By whacking you good with this nice metal stick!" Zack said, grinning, whirling his sword in a circle.
"You can try, at any rate," Sephiroth scoffed, shaking his head and returning to his papers.
"Aw, you're terrified of me and you know it!"
"You can go ahead and think that if it makes you feel better." Sephiroth stood and returned the papers to a file.
"So…you coming?" Zack asked.
Sephiroth put the papers in a locked desk and then drew his exceptionally long Masamune. "I may as well humor you now. You won't be laughing when you wake up sore tomorrow. I'll go easy so as not to cripple you."
"We'll see who's going easy!" Zack led the way, Sephiroth walking casually and confidently behind. Zack held the door open for Sephiroth, gesturing in with his hand. "Ladies first," he said, bowing.
"You're really asking for it," Sephiroth said as Zack took his position in the middle of the arena. Sephiroth didn't bother to prepare; he didn't need to.
Zack was the first to leap, but his attack was swatted away like Sephiroth was hitting at crippled flies instead of a first-class Soldier. Zack frowned in concentration, surveying the silver haired swordsman for any hint of weakness. Just to spite him, Sephiroth leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Zack knew the futility of it all, but he tried nonetheless. As expected, he was blocked, the shock of the blow shaking the joints of his arms until he feared they'd break, while Sephiroth's arm was steady. He wasn't affected.
"Ha," Zack sighed as he raised his sword and backed away. "Ready to surrender? I'll make the terms fair enough…"
"I was about to say the same."
Zack continued battering at Sephiroth, who stayed on defensive. Had he changed tactics, the outcome would already have been decided. Nonetheless, Zack continued onward, savoring the challenge. The entire time, he shot out random ultimatums, pretending that he was in the lead, trying to get at the ever-stoic general.
"And guess who I ran into in the diner?"
Sephiroth looked up, his expression saying that he didn't particularly care and that he was, in addition, mildly annoyed. "That girl you keep talking about…what's her name…Aerith?" he guessed blandly, blocking another of Zack's strikes effortlessly.
"Nah, I'm talking about your girl!"
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"She took a pretty hard fall."
Sephiroth tensed, and his eyes widened in shock. His breathing was harsher, and it wasn't because of exertion. Zack swiped, taking advantage of the moment of panic he had caused his opponent. The general, however, jumped back, evading the blow at the last second.
"She's all right, but she'll probably have some killer bruises tomorrow." Zack admitted in guilt. He hadn't expected Sephiroth to act like that. The pain in his eyes had been horrifically real, and it wasn't right. For someone who showed no emotion, ever, this was a horrible shock. He hadn't known, and never in the world would have guessed, that Sephiroth felt so strongly toward her.
Sephiroth relaxed and gripped his sword tighter. His frown did not fade. "Do not do that again."
Zack stopped, dropping his sword so the tip rested on the ground. "I scared you, didn't I?" His tone, for once, was not mocking, but contemplative and slightly confused. He shook his head, then raised his sword and charged again, only to have his weapon battered away but the significantly slimmer Masamune.
There was now an edge to Sephiroth's maneuvers, releasing the worry and fear that he did not dare to reveal otherwise. "This is real, isn't it?" Zack dared to ask. "This isn't some passing crush…is it?"
Sephiroth neither confirmed nor denied anything, instead choosing to sweep forward and seize the hole in Zack's defenses, sliding the tip of his long blade to his throat. Zack closed his eyes and dropped his sword. "All right, Seph. I surrender."
Sephiroth lowered the blade and sat on one of the benches near the wall, sheathing his weapon after ensuring that it was clean and in good repair. Zack came to join him, though his arrival was strikingly different. He could barely make it, and when he did, he was doubled over, wheezing as he tried to catch his breath and borrowing the towel Sephiroth offered to wipe the sweat from his face. Sephiroth sat next to him, tall and erect, his breathing slow and steady.
"Thank you for the contest, even though it was one sided," Sephiroth said, taking the damp towel and exchanging it for a water bottle.
"Some day I'll hit you. It it's only once on the smallest toe I don't care, but I will get you."
"Hmmm."
"So," Zack said as he leaned back, feeling better after the long drink of water. "The great General Sephiroth is love struck."
"Drop the matter, Zack."
"Her name's Aralyn, right? Beautiful name. Foreign…somehow. Melodic."
Sephiroth looked away.
"Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed about! In fact, it might do you some good to have a woman. She seemed gentle and sympathetic; my guess is you don't come across many people like that in your line of work."
Sephiroth grabbed the water bottle from Zack, though he seriously doubted that it was out of actual thirst. He seemed distracted and far away. After it was clear that he would get no more out of the General, he suggested leaving. He proposed to go down and relax in the common rooms for a while, but Sephiroth only shook his head and left, giving the excuse that he had work to complete.
Zack waited until Sephiroth had left to voice his thoughts to himself. "Clueless. General or not, he's blind as a bat. Ironic…sadly enough." Shrugging, he shouldered his Buster Sword and walked out casually, heading toward the diner where Aralyn worked.
"Clueless, clueless, clueless…."
A/N: So I took some liberties, but you have to believe that he would be somewhat shaky in the relationships department. I mean, the guy grew up in a lab with a freak of a scientist (-sobs hysterically-). Besides, he's perfect in everything else. (-sighs longingly-) It's eleven at night, so you probably shouldn't listen to a word of whatever the heck I just said...but thank you for the reviews!