No Longer A Memory! – Chapter 2: Snakes in the Cupboard
Chapter Summary: Vincent and Sephiroth discover uninvited guests, both in their apartment and in their minds.
Author: Illusor Meaneld
Rated T: for Descriptive violence and injuries, No Adult Situations, No Cussing.
Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Final Fantasy 7. They are owned by Square-Enix, and I am simply borrowing them for my own (and hopefully your) amusements.
I DO however own, the revised conceptual designs for some clothing, demons, and monsters, and "Namir" completely belongs to me so no stealing…
The Door to Sephiroth's and Vincent's apartment was surprisingly easy to jimmy open. Zack shrugged, shoving the cheap ID card back into his pocket.
"You remember the plan right?" He murmured in excited tones to his partner,
"I'm not gonna forget it that fast yo, I do this kinda thing for a livin' sometimes."
"Good!" Zack responded quickly, "Just keep an ear open for the latch," That said they both stepped inside, locking the door behind them, and set quickly to work.
--------------------------
Later that evening Sephiroth stepped up to the door of their apartment, sliding the key easily into the lock and slipping into the room, followed shortly by his raven-haired roommate.
"So we can go ahead and try this Meditation…… thing…." He hesitated, his sentence trailing off as his green eyes scanned the room.
"Visitors." Vincent said softly,
"Didn't steal anything…" Sephiroth whispered back,
"Zack?"
"90 chance…" affirmed the silver-haired swordsman, "I'll check the kitchen."
"Bathroom." Vincent offered, already moving in that direction.
A few moments later Sephiroth strode up to the door of the bathroom that Vincent was just leaving. The gunman raised an eyebrow at the 15 foot constrictor snake that was draped lazily over Sephiroth's shoulders, its tongue flicking the air with mild curiosity.
"It seems to like you." The gunman murmured,
"Seems to." Sephiroth agreed, "I think we might get a cage for it."
Vincent nodded mutely, taking a brief glance down at the bottle of Aftershave clutched in his silver-clawed hand. "Closet?"
"Closet." The Ex-General agreed with a smirk.
Soundlessly the two padded into Sephiroth's room, the Masamune and Cerberus were both drawn before Sephiroth counted down from three with his fingers. Then a gloved hand whipped out sliding the Closet door open with enough force to make it screech on the hinges. A pair of startled yelps pierced the quiet, and two pairs of blue eyes widened in horror. Vincent's gauntleted hand rose in one fluid movement and the aftershave was deployed. Fear turned to revulsion as the potent spray settled on the two interlopers.
"Yeeeaaaaaghh…" Zack choked, coughing and waving his hand before his nose,
"What IS that stuff?" Reno cried, wrapping both hands over his face.
"That's what we wanted to ask you." Sephiroth snorted, his impressive blade held ready at his side. Vincent pointed Cerberus wordlessly at the Black-haired swordsman's head,
"Whoa! Whoa! Don't kill me! It was a joke!" Zackary sputtered,
"How did you figure it out so fast?" Reno gawked, still trying to plug his nose unsuccessfully.
"We don't use aftershave…" Vincent explained.
"What? Then why do you have it?" Zack raised an eyebrow,
"Came with the set." Sephiroth said with a shrug. Reno was now eyeing the massive reptile Sephiroth carried,
"So you don't use that when you shave?" The Turk queried after a moment, Sephiroth smirked,
"Neither of us has to shave."
"WHOA! I KNEW you two were related!" Zack cried,
"You don't need to shave either Zack…" Sephiroth snorted with a roll of his eyes, "Nor does Cloud." Zack blinked several times.
"Really? Oh… well…."
"It's a Mako thing." Vincent muttered,
"What about Reno? I never see him shave!" Zack responded quickly, Reno's eyes widened, his gaze becoming strangely guarded. "He never even has a SHADOW!"
"That's because…" Sephiroth began,
"Don't you DARE yo! You promised!" The Turk snapped in sudden panic.
"…He's a natural blonde…"
"YOU PROMISED!" Reno bellowed,
"A Blonde?" Zack gaped,
"It's the earring." Sephiroth affirmed, "It has special properties." He smirked wickedly before turning his gaze to the irate 'redhead'.
"Earring?" Zack repeated blankly,
"You should remember, you were there when he got it!" Sephiroth chuckled, "What was that… your third mission with the Turks?"
"Fourth!" Reno growled,
"Third mission? …" Sephiroth reiterated,
"Oh… yeah I guess so," Zack shuffled his feet sheepishly, "It was a … Hey wait a minute! How did YOU know? You weren't even There!"
"I'm not blind Zack… And I DID have to review the Mission Report." Sephiroth sighed, Reno grumbled inarticulately under his breath,
"You said you wouldn't go spreading it about!" The Turk insisted,
"Spreading it to whom? Vincent? He doesn't care!" Sephiroth scoffed,
As if to prove the point Vincent shrugged, "Now back to the problem." He said holding up the can of tampered Aftershave, The two intruders shifted nervously,
"Yes, what should we do to repay you for all that." Sephiroth agreed. Vincent gave a slow smile before cocking back the hammers on his tri-barreled gun.
"WAIT!" Reno yelped, waving his hands before him wildly, "I got some great dirt yo!"
Sephiroth raised one silver brow, "I'm listening."
"I can get photos of when Cloud cross-dressed for Don Corneo."
A nearly identical lazy smirk spread on the two mercenary's faces. Zack started to chuckle and Reno, who felt the pressure lifting slid into his normal cocky slouch.
--------------------------
It was a short while later, after Sephiroth had calmly but insistently escorted their uninvited guests to the front door, that the duo seated themselves in their living room.
"Damage report?" Sephiroth asked, Vincent nodded,
"After-shaves combined together, Shampoo and conditioner combined and redistributed into their respective bottles. Hand soap super-glued to the counter, Ink added to the Loofahs, Ammonia in the bath oil, itching powder in the bath salt, heat-activated sticky-paint in the bathtub, hosing in the toilet reworked, light bulbs replaced with fakes, and the mirrors and door handles coated in Vaseline." The gunman listed stoically,
"Constrictor snake in the cereal cupboards, milk curdled with citrus juice, salt and sugar switched, thin coating of vegetable oil on the floor, Table centerpiece glued in place, poison-ivy added to flower vase, Sink piping loosened, soda switched for colored vinegar, microwave door unscrewed, baking soda added to the sugar cereals."
"Not bad." Vincent murmured,
"We'll have to be certain to return the favor." Sephiroth grinned, Vincent chuckled softly in response.
"For the moment, would you like to try the meditation?" Vincent prompted generously,
"Sure. How do we start?"
It was not as easy as it sounded, Sephiroth quickly discovered. He and Vincent sat across from each other on the living room floor, the gunman calmly repeating the instructions for meditation in an undertone, Sephiroth struggling to clear his mind. The breathing part had been easy, military discipline lent itself well to that. But his own voice made concentrating difficult.
Come to me my son… join me… together we can rule the planet…
Could she talk of nothing else? Shut up lady! I'm trying to meditate. Sephiroth thought back fiercely.
The humans are weak and traitorous… they stole what was rightfully ours…
Technically I'm still human. Sephiroth snorted,
My son… My child… come to Mother…
"Hey Vince" Sephiroth interrupted the gunman's mantra, "How do you get your voices to shut up while you meditate?"
"I ignore them." Came the simple reply.
"Oh." Sephiroth sighed and shut his eyes again, trying to focus on what Vincent was muttering.
You are special My child… together we can ascend to godhood…
Sephiroth breathed evenly, focusing on the simple feelings of cloth beneath his fingers where they rested on his knee, and the soothing even sound of Vincent's voice, the subtle shift in the air from the barely cracked open kitchen window.
The Planet is ours for the taking… Nothing can stand in our way…
Breathing in and out… in and out, Sephiroth could still smell the flowers he'd placed on the table, a gift from one of their tenants.
These Puny humans are no match for us… Listen to me My child…
Suddenly Sephiroth stiffened, he could have sworn he'd heard something else, but it had sounded distant and … muffled. Settling into his 'breathing' again this time he strained his mental ear.
My Son… we are destined for greatness… we…
And I thought hell was annoying… Came the muted sneer,
Sephiroth's eyes snapped open, he blinked several times at Vincent who paused to regard him curiously,
Disgusting creature… Go bother your pathetic human…
What's the matter?... Forgotten me already?... And here I thought you liked me… The deep baritone mocked,
Sephiroth's mouth dropped, "Uh….mmm…" He muttered softly, staring at Vincent, who looked back in mild confusion.
This is NONE of your business DEMON! JENOVA shrieked,
Both Vincent and Sephiroth winced, green eyes met red ones and sudden shocked understanding passed between them.
Way too loud…
Sephiroth cringed at the off-tone sound of this particular voice. "Are you hearing that?" Vincent nodded in response, "So those are your voices?" Sephiroth queried,
"Indeed… I am assuming the loud one was JENOVA?" Sephiroth returned the nod,
"Which one is that grating one?"
"Death Gigas." Vincent muttered softly, Sephiroth gave a short gasp,
Well I remember you… you're nothing more than a rotting corpse!... Chaos scorned,
"Chaos." Vincent explained.
Foul tainted spirits should not speak…
I like corpses… chuckled a gravely rasping voice, I like to peel them apart… rend their flesh… watch the maggots feast on their despoiled remains…
"Hellmasker" Vincent added calmly,
"I see," Sephiroth responded, quickly reconciling himself to the newly shared ability, "They don't seem particularly fond of JENOVA do they?"
"Nor her of them." Vincent observed.
Abominable creatures!... How Dare you!...
You're one to talk… Chaos laughed tauntingly,
Be quiet!... All of you… Thrummed a vaguely effeminate voice.
"New one…" Vincent muttered in some surprise,
"She doesn't talk much right?" Sephiroth queried, cocking his head as he continued to listen to the exchanges,
I'm a He… The whispery voice growled,
"Oh…" Vincent and Sephiroth both mumbled, glancing at each other sheepishly,
Stay down you revolting cat!... JENOVA scoffed,
A low hiss rumbled through the two warrior's minds.
Begone where you came from disgusting little…
JENOVA's tirade was abruptly interrupted when Both Sephiroth and Vincent felt a strange presence reach through their minds faster than a striking snake, for a brief moment there was a feeling of intense stuffiness, followed by the strangest 'pop' sound and a whoosh, like air filling an empty space, yet all of this took place within their minds.
Filthy Beast!... FILTHY BEAST!!... JENOVA Shrieked suddenly, How DARE you!... I'll KILL you!!...
Another swipe and the strange implosion feeling, and suddenly JENOVA's voice ceased, a vague sense of 'retreating' filtered through the minds of the two mercenaries.
"… Cat?" Sephiroth muttered after several moments of silence.
"I think… he … harmed JENOVA somehow…" Vincent muttered uncertainly,
"Your voices scare me Vince."
"Sometimes they worry me as well…"
"Does your fifth voice have a name?" Sephiroth inquired in an effort to break the strangely uncomfortable quiet.
"Not that sh…. He has given me."
Namir… I am Namir Shrikar…
--------------------------
((Many Thanks to Corncob for inspiring me with the inter-communing voices idea. XD))