Chapter Forty-Nine: Shame and Grief
"You know, this really isn't helping either of you, Seph."
Sephiroth ignored Zack's comment, still stroking Aralyn's pale hand, carefully avoiding the IV.
"Looming over her isn't going to make her better," Zack insisted. "And you don't sleep as much as most people and you're still ready to collapse!"
"I'm not leaving."
Zack threw up his hands, wondering why he even tried. "Sephiroth, look. It's a miracle you got out of trouble for going AWOL on the President, and I wouldn't push your luck! Just go back, do a little work, and drop by afterward. She's stable now and the doctors are doing all they can."
"I'm not leaving," he repeated, not taking his eyes from Aralyn's form. She was laid out on a steel framed bed, her body nearly covered in bandages, red seeping through in some places. She was heavily reliant on the oxygen mask, her breathing slow and labored. Every once in a while, she would moan and toss, but she hadn't opened her eyes as of yet, and it had been three days since the ordeal.
"Not until she wakes," he added, moving a strand of her hair from her eyes. Zack had never seen Sephiroth this gentle and sad.
"Well, then I'll go and think of some excuse to give to the President…and the Turks…" He started walking away when he heard Sephiroth's voice.
"You were right."
Zack stopped, quite taken aback by the quiet admittance of defeat. "Well gee…thanks." He ruffled the back of his hair in confusion. "But…about what, exactly?"
"I can't live without her. If my mistake costs her life…I don't know what I'll do…"
"Hey," Zack interrupted quickly. "She's going to be fine. And as for you leaving her…I'm sure she's already forgiven you."
"She shouldn't have stayed home. She should have gone to work as usual. None of this would have happened."
"You tore her up, man! Give her some credit."
"…I know…it's my fault…"
"Oh, don't start that again. I thought we went over this already. It's done, over. Let it go."
"Zack…" Sephiroth closed his eyes and paused for a long time, then tore his gaze from Aralyn and looked him sternly in the eye. It comforted Zack to know that his old commander was still in there somewhere. "I need to go to town today."
"Sure," Zack shrugged. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need something to distract Hojo. I don't want the slightest possibility that he'll be laying so much as a finger on her while I'm gone."
Zack grinned, obviously already planning a devious scheme. "Done! Reno and I owe the old buzzard a visit!"
"Thank you. I'll give you clearance to enter the chemical closet, if you should so desire."
"You read my mind!" Zack's smile faded. "By the way, what do you need in town?"
Sephiroth turned back to Aralyn. "Something to ensure that another misunderstanding about our relationship never happens again." He gently leaned down and stroked her jaw before pulling himself up, his hand still lingering on her cheek. "I'll be back," he whispered to her. He hesitated, then kneeled down at her side again and pressed his lips to her forehead in a gentle kiss. Aralyn seemed to smile, but she didn't open her eyes.
Tearing himself away from her, he finally followed Zack. "You're not to tell her of that," he said solemnly.
Zack rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, General."