Okay so, here is it finished. Enjoy my loves. :D i finally got this to you. i haven't been on the internet and that Tornado touchdown in Florida was near where i live. So everyone was going ballistic today. It was cold, it was wet and miserable all day. Bad Day. Except I got to see... nevermind. Rambling. Enjoy it. and Review it, if you want. Reviews make me so happy.
Uh excuse any mistakes in the story just yet. I'll probably need to revise it a few more times. But uh, lazy Disclaimer. Evie is mine, everything else isn't.
His words spoke to our ears, and to me nothing but poison came from them. Words spoken to manipulate Sephiroth to his will. And my jaw clenched my hair sprinkling onto my face as I knelt a bit away from Sephiroth.
"You were the greatest monster created by the Jenova project," Genesis, was still the same.
Zack managed to speak up and while Genesis answered his voice, Sephiroth ignored it. I jumped from my spot to run to Zack who was still shaking off the hit. He turned his head up to look at Genesis and I held him by his elbow trying to get him up.
"Genesis.. So you are alive!" The red uniformed man turned to the two of us and gave us an odd look.
"I suppose I am, if you can call this living," he scoffed.
"What is the Jenova project?" My bright blue eyes looked back to Sephiroth along with Genesis. I took a long shaky breath my eyebrows furrowed.
"The Jenova Project... was the term used for all of the experiments... relating to the use of Jenova's cells." answered the SOLDIER calmly, sickeningly so.
"My mother's... cells?" mumbled Sephiroth mostly to himself.
"Poor little Sephiroth... You've never actually met your mother. You've only been told her name, no?" He spoke with a forked tongue, and he even sat down, casually. Sephiroth stared off into he distance seemingly contemplating his old friends words, and I could feel my heart sink some, like a stone into my stomach. "I don't know what images you've conjured up in your head, but..."
"Genesis, no!"I jumped, having forgotten the Zack in my hands. He was rocking, obviously still ruffled from the hit. And I gave Zack the dirtiest look I've ever thrown at him. Genesis only continued, determined to speak his mind.
"Jenova," he started roughly, " was excavated from a 2000-year-old rock layer... She's a monster." Sephiroth gasped lightly and turned away from Genesis, a look of almost heartbreak crossing it. And for a time, he stared solely at the ground.
I stood slowly, and as I was standing up, I realized to myself, What can I do for him? Sephiroth is my friend, my tutor, my higher ranking officer... What is there to do or say for him? What can I say? This entire time, I had barely spoken a word, my thoughts were swirling and my throat was tight, I couldn't speak, or at least could barely.
"Sephiroth... I need your help. My body is continuing to degrade." He mumbled this so casually, so calmly, before he stood noticing that Sephiroth was still in a daze. "SOLDIER 1st Class Sephiroth!" The general's head shot up and an intake of air elicited from him. He stood almost at attention. "Jenova Project G gave birth to Angeal... and monsters like myself. Jenova Project S..."
"S...?" Zack was sitting now, speaking mostly o myself and I was frozen in my spot, unsure of what to do or say in the situation I was stuck in. So I did nothing, keeping silent letting my thoughts run wildly, this was so unlike me.
"...used the remains of countless failed experiments to create a perfect monster." Genesis kept going. Sephiroth shook hi head.
"Where are you pulling this information from?" I asked, seemingly to myself.
"What do you want from me?" Sephiroth asked, his voice strained, his head high,his eyes low.
"Your traits cannot be copied unto others. Your genes can't be diffused. Therefore, your body cannot degrade." The red clad man paused, if only to walk forward, towards me and Zack. "Share your cells with me. My friend, your desire is the bringer of life, the gift of the Goddess." Sephiroth turned to watch Genesis, he managed to pulled a Dumbapple from nowhere. I tilted my head, hair falling around my face slowly as I watched the interaction carefully, like a video.
The silver haired hero glanced upwards at the word JENOVA on the wall above and then spoke, "Whether your words... are lies created to deceive me... or the truth, that I have sought all my life... it makes no difference." Sephiroth knocked the apple from his hand, " You will rot." With a stern look and raise of his eyebrows, he was gone.
"I see... perfect monster, indeed." I stood silent as he quoted from Loveless once more and left.
"No, stop!" Zack stood and stumbling followed genesis out. I was glued to my spot looking at the forgotten Dumbapple. I stood alone, silent in the room watching that purple fruit. Blank. Slowly my eyes lifted to the green light above and then the words above the light. JENOVA.
Sephiroth. My daze snapped, my thoughts turning back to Zack. I spun my head around frantically. Before running out of the room, across the bridge and through the reactor. I was outside in time to see Tifa and Cloud following Zack. I glanced to the bottom of the stairs to spot genesis copies. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could before slowing down, staring after Tifa realizing Cloud was hurt.
I was almost acting out of body. Like someone else was controlling me or I was on Autopilot. I followed the three back into town, where we found Sephiroth was missing.
"Where did Sephiroth go...?" Zack said after skidding to a stop. I walked up beside him letting my hand brush against his to show him I was there.
Behind us, Tifa spoke up, "Something the matter?"
"Sorry, I can't tell you," came Zack's response.
"I'm not surprised," I gave her an almost apologetic smile. She walked up to us, "I'll ask around town if anyone's seen Sephiroth," I smiled brightly at her.
"Thanks Tifa."She nodded and ran off. Zack turned back to Cloud, glanced at me and walked over to the slouching blonde. I sighed, and the head lifted some as Zack pulled his arm around his shoulders. It was silent until we walked back up the stairs to the hotel room they shared. I closed the door as Cloud was placed on the bed. I sat across from Cloud and looked at him. He was silent.
"You alright?" He didn't speak but gave me a silent nod before he passed out soundly. I stood from the bed and walked over to Zack who seemed worried and confused. He didn't move despite hearing from my boots that I had walked over.
I brushed his hand casually again, he looked over at me this time, but still said nothing. I threw a cure over to Cloud, speeding up his recovery. I turned back to Zack, his emotionless face igniting a fire in my stomach, spreading lightly to warm me. An aching filled my chest, heavy and depressing; it was sudden and unexplainable. His mako infused eyes locked with mine, of almost the same color, pleading with me for something. I kept his gaze before turning to him fully and making him face me.
He whispered to me, almost unsure of his own words for once, which confused me, "Now what?" my features softened at this and I shook my head.
"This... isn't what we came here for; I wasn't expecting this to happen... you know that." I muttered back. He became exasperated and I smiled at this. He walked away and sat down across from Cloud. I slowly turned to find him looking at me again. I smiled gently, my head tilted, I looked at him with a gentleness I have never given anyone else before. Slowly Zack dropped his eyes to the floor. Cloud began to stir and I stood at the edge of the bed silently.
Eventually Cloud sat up, so Zack spoke first, "Tifa's safe, don't worry..." It was silent as my thoughts wrapped around why this was Zack's first statement.
"If only I were SOLDIER..." his voice said lightly. My eyebrows furrowed sympathetically. "Zack?"
I turned to Zack he looked contemplative, he paused for a second more thinking to himself, before he spoke, "SOLDIER is like a den of monsters. Don't go inside." I clenched my teeth at this. The use of the word monsters made me want to rip something's head off. I looked away from Cloud and Zack and decided to go to the window and watch the sky outside. It was calming, but could not block out their words. Cloud glanced over to me expecting me to say something, I grimaced and turned away.
"What happened?" he inquired.
"I don't know, man... I thought I knew, but..." I chanced a glance at Zack and smiled to myself to see him sitting the way he was. The simple little things, but in that simple glance I saw all oh him and feeling in my chest swelled confusingly. I turned away in time to hear, "Ahhhhh!" Then silence. I rubbed my exposed arms softly with my leather covered thumbs.
"By the way, do you know Tifa?" My attention perked at the mention of the girl's name. I turned to watch as Cloud moved away from Zack and sat completely on the bed, putting his head down almost curling into himself.
"Sort of..."
"Talked to her?"
"No..." Zack sat up a bit from his previous laying position.
"I'm sensing some issues here... shouldn't you do something?" Cloud only pulled his head down more. It was silent for a moment and my head snapped back to them at the sound of Zack's voice speaking again. "I'm one to talk." At this my heart squeezed tightly almost to the point where I thought I wouldn't be able to breathe.
Aerith…I had forgotten all about her ever since we arrived in Nibelheim. Zack stood and began to walk around the room as well as towards the window and me.
"I'm with SOLDIER, so…fighting's all I do. Sorting things out is someone else's job. What's going on? Who's the enemy?" He grabbed his sword, lifted as if to strike as he said, "It makes no difference to me!" he took a deep breath, and I walked over to him as he placed his forehead to the large sword. I touched his arm gently but he didn't move. I rubbed softly with a gloved hand. As he was breathing, I rubbed at his arm, Cloud began to speak.
"Hey, Zack?" I gave his arm on final squeeze. He glanced at me thanking me. I nodded. "You know, I've never seen you use that." Zack paused as if in thought about something.
"This is a symbol of my dreams and honor. No… it's more than that. That's right… I had almost forgotten. Thank you, Cloud."
"Huh?" the blonde was confused but I smiled gently and shook my head, my constantly growing hair shook. It was something having to do with Angeal; he didn't know him so I figured he wouldn't understand.
"Right!" Zack had put his sword down, walked towards the bed, did a couple squats, and laid down. "I'm gonna crash. Night!" Cloud seemed confused but I shook my head again with a smile on my lips and left without a word. Out of habit, I looked behind me to glance at Zack one last time before I left. The two were looking at me as well. I smiled lightly and left with a small wave.
"That's the Zack I know." I left to walk outside and enjoy the countryside in comparison to the clustered city I was so used to. The innkeeper warned me about fiends that roamed around especially at night. I reassured him that I'd be alright. He was skeptic but decided to say no more. I stepped outside and the first thing I did was take a deep breath. The night was calm, no fiends, yet. The town was so dark in comparison to the city all I could do was stare at the sky, you could see so many stars, despite the fact the sun wasn't even completely gone yet.
I stood just outside of the hotel silent, breathing. The wind blew gently rustling my hair slowly. I touched it absentmindedly, it had grown freakishly fast in less than the week I had cut it in. When we had left it was around shoulder length and now it was almost halfway to my elbow...already. I sighed playing with my dark hair for a second. I tucked some behind my ear and felt my earrings,and brought both hands up to notice the four earrings Zack given me for my birthday. I smiled, I had also gotten the ring underneath my gloves from him and we originally got our haircuts together.
I noticed now that my life had been very intertwined with Zack, especially since the incident with Rufus before. I sensed something nearing me and I tensed to see it was Tifa's form running around.
I called to her, "Tifa? What are you doing?" She stopped and ran over slowly.
"Well now I was heading home," I gave her a questionable look.
"You alright?" She nodded. Light from the Hotel let me see just enough of her face, she locked eyes with me, obviously from the glowing color of my eyes. I put my hand on her small shoulder she seemed worried.
"it's about my friend... He left, some years ago, you know like everyone was doing? To be a SOLDIER... I haven't heard from him, or seen him in the newspaper. Only you and Sephiroth. I doubt you know him, but if he's in SOLDIER you wouldn't miss him..." She seemed reluctant to really say anything to me. But I was touched she'd say so much to me, despite barely knowing me. I smiled down to her gently.
"What are you worried about?"
"I... it's silly I don't want to talk about it." I paused and took my hand from her shoulder. I didn't argue with her. I smiled grimly.
"Alright," I nodded and walked away slowly. After a minute her footsteps followed mine.
"Do you..." I stopped and turned to look at her through the dark, my eyes quickly adjusting to the dark from their enhancement. She seemed only able to find my eyes due to their glow. "do you love Zack?" I stopped, my eyes widening.
I was totally baffled by this, "I...well...we...uh... wha... why do you asked?" I was graced with the darkness from the now gone sun.
She looked away embarrassed, and she seemed to rethink her next choice of words, "I thought... I assumed... from the way you look at him, and care about him... I just thought..." I was silent.
"I'm with SOLDIER. Fighting is all I do," I said lightly quoting Zack. "I'm not even sure what being in love is like Tifa, and even if I was I wouldn't tell Zack, he's my best friend. Being in love is irrelevant and does nothing for me but complicate already complicated things, especially with me being SOLDIER."
Tifa paused almost seeming to want to explain to me what it felt like, "But it's-"
I stopped her, "It's not relevant, get some sleep, it's late, the sun is gone and the fiends come out at night, you know that." She didn't seem to argue.
"Evie, one more thing... how old are you?" I paused., questionable as if I should answer.
"Older than you." She didn't say anything looking as though she wanted to say more. "At a guess, Tifa, I'm at least two years older, don't worry about it, go home, rest up." she nodded and walked away slowly. I took a deep breath.
"Good night, Evie." I smiled.
"Good night, Tifa." she left at a jog at least this time. I turned away the conversation we just had making my head spin incredibly.
Love? Me in love with Zack? What does love even feel like? Doesn't Zack love Aerith? Why did Tifa bring it up? The way I look at him? Oh no... I'm not going to be able to go bed easily. I groaned.
I kicked a rock lightly and walked towards the mansion just a little ways away from town. It was dark and haunting at night. There was no life in it, and the area was filled with over growth. As I stared at the house crunching of rocks and an eerie sound made me spin my sword pulled out. Fiends. I had strayed far enough that they were willing to poke up and pick a fight. I saw some in the distance but they didn't want to pick a fight until I was running home.
I was too distracted to fight them properly, but I managed to defeat them and fight some more. I was barely tired, just a little beat up and the rest of the fiends ran as I neared the town. Sometimes fiends scared me shitless. Especially when they surprise attack me. I'm too scared to really do much at first, before they attack me and I'm knocked out of my trance.
I took a deep soothing breath as I neared the center of the town again. I stood straight, pulled my head back and with one more deep sigh I spun Harpenger onto my back again. A gentle breeze whistled my hair around. The ground crunched beneath my feet as I walked to the water tower slowly. Again, my brain was rattled with thoughts I was never concerned with before.
All I used to think about was doing my job... and Finding Eric... slowly my thoughts turned to him, Eric... I jumped suddenly, my own ring tone scaring me as I was lost in my thoughts.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and gave a small, "huh?" before picking it up.
"Hello?" I asked my eyebrows furrowed as I answered the phone.
"it got through!" An excited voice came from the other side, and I smiled slowly, Aerith. A cringing pain swelled in my throat, but I took a deep breath hoping to push it away. No luck.
"Is this good news?"
"Oh! Very, obviously you are very far away."
"mm, that we are. How are your days without us to bring excitement to them?" I smirked gently without thinking about it.
"Quiet, not much happens without you two here, and I've been trying to reach you for a few hours. I managed to talk to Zack. I miss you two, very much," without thinking I rolled my eyes, having doubts.
When I realized what I had done I stopped and softened, "Yeah... we miss you too. Don't worry." my thoughts ran to Zack, I seemed to be talking for him more than myself.
"So how are things?" she continued casually.
"So far? Not that bad, it was nothing we couldn't handle though. We kicked ass and took names. " I said simply grinning as she giggled at this. "We miss home, so hopefully we'll be back before you know it." I could imagine her smiling on the other line and we chatted politely for a few minutes.
"Hey Aerith, let me head to bed."
"Alright," She stifled a yawn, " Goodnight Evie."
"Night Aerith." I hung up the phone quickly and I leaned against the water tower silently. My heart ached terribly. I was sad, and I didn't want to cry, especially over something so trivial. The feeling I got after talking to Aerith tore through me and my thoughts reshaping how things in my head were.
A vicious feeling in me rose up and I could only think of horrendous things about Aerith who was my closest female friend... my only female friend. That vicious need in me, wanted her dead, and didn't even care. It was powered by desire and as I thought silently things started to walk into place inside of my head. And my heart fell into my stomach as the reasoning behind wanted to be so vicious was the overwhelming urge to be with Zackary, my longest and closest friend.
Life always had a way of making everything complicated for me.
This took a bit longer than i wanted and I apologize, sincerely. I had forgotten about it for a little while. And recently i've been obsessed with Sirius Black and all his wonderful-ness.