Hi! Early upload here! I thought I'd finish this chapter in a few months, but to my surprise, I could write it only in a few days! (exclude the editing, of course, (that's such a miracle because I also made two illustrations for this chapter)).

Anyway, if you ever wondered about the character's height, Sephiroth is 200cm tall. I searched it online and found different info. But I decided to follow the statement that he is taller than Berret (197cm). Meanwhile, Lucka is 175 cm, Ryuu is 187 cm, Genesis is 195 cm, and Orion is 189cm.

I never mentioned before (because I forgot) that this fic (perhaps) will have more than 50 chapters. The plot mostly follows the Crisis Core storyline, and the conversations will have a major line from the game script. So I warn you, this will be a long journey. But I hope you can enjoy every twist and turn while reading this. Until next time, take care!

Content warning: Oral sex at the last section.

I 1000% recommend reading this chapter with the song & sound effects I've embedded 3

As the weeks passed, Sephiroth spent more time with Lucka. He couldn't tell how they always got near to each other. Somehow, it just happened naturally. Of course, fifty percent of the time was spent doing sex. And for the rest, He'd taught her how to manage her magic and hang out doing various random things in between.

Her amity yet nonchalant demeanor had a way of relieving his turmoil after the loss of his two closest companions. The absence of Angeal, who had always been a calming presence, and Genesis, who had once been the source of fieriness yet annoyance in his otherwise mundane days, left a palpable void in his life.

As if he was waded downstream of ocean grief. It was hard to hold high a foot; he was not about to move on just yet. He still lingered in the shallows with woe he couldn't cross over. So he chose to remain on this side, remembering every warmth they had left. Upon the cluttered truth of what was gone, his prevail attachment and anger, he was stuck in the middle.

Though he would never admit it, their departure had affected him greatly, and he struggled to cope with the shattering feelings of abandonment that threatened to swallow him. As much as he missed his dear friends, the thought of being left alone again was almost too much to bear, and he feared that he might be pushed to the brink of mayhem once more. But day after day felt more bearable with Lucka's company.

They were mostly on good terms. But sometimes, her quick change in mood confounded him. She could turn cold so unexpectedly. Like right now.

"I'm not talking to you."

Sephiroth's hands fell to his side. His head tilted in confusion. "Why?"

Lucka shook her head while her back on his face. She'd been lying comfortably there on his bed for a while. Since they kissed not less than half an hour ago, Gaia, they just kissed. And it was the heated one. But now she was in a foul mood?

Sephiroth stepped closer and sat on the bed's edge. "Why are you mad?"

Lucka sat up abruptly and grabbed a box of chocolate from the nightstand. She jerked the lid open to show the empty content. "You ate all of them!" she cried.

Sephiroth only blinked. "You said I can have them."

"But that doesn't mean you can sweep them clean! You didn't even leave a crumb!" she said with glazing eyes.

Sephiroth let out a low chuckle. He covered his face with a hand because he couldn't stand seeing her furious expression.

"Bastard! Don't laugh!" she said, slapping his shoulder repeatedly.

He gleefully caught her hand and said, "Why are you mad because of your words? Your such a hypocrite, you know." He decided to tease her a little more.

"I am not! You empathy-deprived, evil asshole! How could you not leave any single one for me! I got it far away from here!" she slapped his chest hard.

Sephiroth let out a fake cough. "From where?"

"WUTAI!"

He fell flat to scuttle the ghost of laughter after seeing her aggression. But his delighted response only fueled her fury.

"How dare you laugh at me after you robbed my chocolate!"

Gaia. Robbed? She's overreacting.

"Calm down, Lucka. I can get you another ten boxes. Okay?" The laugh died down, but he sounded merrier than before.

Lucka put down her hands while her eyes grew big. "Really?"

"Really. I'll order it right away," Sephiroth said with a leftover smile and flipped the box to see the number company. He called them and ordered ten boxes for her, as promised.

"They said the package will arrive within three days." He said, placing his phone on the nightstand.

Lucka eyed the empty box and looked at him. She quietly said, "Thanks."

"My pleasure. So you're not angry anymore?"

Lucka shook her head. "No."

"Good. Next time you're upset with me, tell me why so I can fix it. Okay?"

Lucka nodded. Her cheeks were in reddish rose. "Okay."

"Good girl."

Her face fully turned red. Ah, she must really like it when Sephiroth call her that, huh?

He caressed her head, but she slapped his hand away. She craned her head towards the hallway and stayed still.

"What sound is that?" she asked, looking straight at him.

"You just heard it? I play the song on the turntable a while ago."

"Turntable? You have a turntable?" she sounded baffled while walking to the hallway.

"I do. Why are you so surprised?" Sephiroth said, following her to his study room.

Lucka peeked inside the room. He pushed the door wider to let her in. It was her first time there, so she seemed a bit cautious.

"Holy!" she gasped after looking around the room, resting her wandering eyes on his vinyl collection.

"What the hell! Why are there so many?" Lucka waved her hands toward the towering shelves that contained his vinyl.

"I collected them," he said, running his fingers to the middle row.

Lucka opened and closed her mouth in turn. She looked bewildered. "I don't know you have such a hobby."

"Why not? Do you think I'm not eligible to enjoy some music?" he said, raising an eyebrow and folding his arm in front of his chest.

"Honestly? No," she said with a deep frown. "You're a vill—very stoic and stern person."

Vill-what?

"That's such silly reasoning. So what if I'm stoic and stern? I also love to listen to good music."

Lucka huffed. "Right. I'm so silly," she said, then scanned row after row of vinyl. "What genre you're listening to?"

"Mostly alternative," he said and pulled out a black-covered album. "I love this one. It's Darkwave."

"Damn. Your taste is just mental." Lucka glanced up at him and then at the vinyl in his hand.

"Do you want to listen to it?" He tried speaking less excitedly.

"No," Lucka deadpanned.

"Fine," Sephiroth shoved it back to the shelf.

She giggled. "Give me something lighter."

Sephiroth glanced down and ran his fingers to another row. "How about Shoegaze? No, Dream pop?"

"Okay. Cool."

Teenage Blue - Dreamgirl

Rain sound

Sephiroth picked a dark and silver-colored cover with two figures. He exchanged the vinyl on the turntable and played the new one. After a while, he suddenly heard the November rain pouring outside the large windows.

Lucka looked out at the macabre afternoon horizon. Her slim fingers trace down waterdrops behind the window pane, a moiré pattern formed by the varying currents on its glass surface. From the gutter, it flew a warped braided droplet all the way to the outer sill, where it broke and glimmered into the dazzling thinnest needles. She hummed along to the song, watching the marching rain and lulled to the significant patter it made of the vigorous dictum of precipitation.

And so, he watched her.

Had not Sephiroth said it out loud? Lucka had embodied almost—if not all the wondrous and enchanting allure in the universe. Such expressions adequately capture the essence of her enticement. What was the word again? Majestic. Her lucent white hair was eloquently soft as it cascaded through his fingers. Her gaudy eyes were the brightest in the cloudless climes and starry skies. Her smooth, alabaster skin caused him to volatilize. And her sublime lips spurred a delirium of desire whenever he kissed them.

Despite his usual resistance to physical beauty, there was something undeniably compelling about her. Perhaps it was her youthful radiance, or maybe it was the untethered spirit that emanated from her. And let us not overlook the way she spoke so carelessly, yet confidently, in his face. These facets combined to create an indescribable appeal that left him utterly fascinated.

He stood right behind her. And she surprised him by leaning her head back on his chest. She looked up at him and gave him a seam of a captivating smile. Sephiroth drew a line along her jawline with his thumb and rested at her chin. The twinkle in her eyes talked its language. So lustrous, so mesmerizing. Gaia. Her resting face was gorgeous. But her smiling face was something else.

"Do you like the song?" He murmured.

"Yes. It's lovely. It makes me want to dance along," Lucka said, swaying her body slowly.

"Let's," Sephiroth said and stepped back from her. He held her hand overhead and twirled her body to face him.

Lucka let out a shocked giggle. He led her move, following the rhythm of the music across the floor. The immaculate harmony of the song and the downpour noise filled the air around them, creating an ethereal melody in his ear. The luminous chandeliers overhead and the flickering flames of the fireplace cast a warm, magnetic glow over the surroundings, a delightful contrast to the dreary weather. As he breathed in the scent of burning wood mixed with her delicate powdery perfume and the humid fragrance of the rain, he felt his senses come alive, rekindling his previously listless spirit. How could it feel nostalgic even though he'd never been experiencing such assortment?

Sephiroth took a deep breath and straightened his back, discerning the sudden weight of her presence in his arm. Unfamiliar feelings surged through his body, and his fingers tingled in rapture. His hand brushed across her cheek. He drew her close to his chest, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her white locks fell over her eyes like a curtain blocking the light. He desired to see those gray eyes. What was hidden there? He swept the strand behind her ear and watched her gleaming eyes greet him.

Those eyes made him forget they were in the middle of a dance. His movement slowed down while his sense drank every drop of her poise. Who knew he was this arid? Over the echo of the water, Petrichor was pirouetting the atmosphere. He would choose to drown, shunning the voice that hailed to swerve from her. It may have been only the sound of something untamed and nameless that surged against his chest. He wouldn't answer the calling of myriads of lexicon words. No, not yet, for this moment. He would solely let the quiet ripple bring upon the austere present. Saith the heart, something was blossoming. And to know what it would become, he dared the time to manifest itself.

The passage of time seemed to stretch out before them as seconds turned into minutes, each moment feeling like it could last evermore. They swayed gently, lost in tune and in each other's embrace, savoring the closeness and solace they found with one another. But then, Lucka's expression changed abruptly, her features turning thoughtful and contemplative. The magic was broken, and he sensed something weighing heavily on her mind.

"What is it?"

"Hm?" Lucka shook her head. "Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"No… it's just… I remembered my task from my therapist."

"What task?"

Lucka softly pushed him away and glanced down. "Setting boundaries." She looked at him. "With you."

Sephiroth titled his head curiously. Without realizing it, his chest ached. "With me? Why do you want to set a boundary? Did I cross another line?"

"No. It's just because having entanglement with you is like doing a chore." lucka snickered.

His eyebrows formed a frown. "Why do you think like that?"

"You know, you're a difficult person to be with."

He snorted. His hand pulled Lucka back. "Well, it depends."

Lucka rolled her eyes. "Do you especially make it harder when you're with me?"

"Of course not. I try my best to amend my past mistakes," Sephiroth said, looking her right in the eyes with his piercing gaze.

Lucka closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. "See? You make it harder. Don't... just don't... act that way." She stepped back and raised her arms.

"Why? Did I make you uncomfortable?" He asked, advancing one step toward her.

"No." Lucka shook her head.

"Then why?" He took another step.

"I don't want something complicated. I'm not from this world, General."

"I'm okay with that." He said and stood right before her. His fingertips brush her hand.

Her glistening eyes flickered at him. "You're okay when one day I disappear?"

"When you're gone." He took her hand and caressed her knuckles with his thumb. He locked eyes with her hazy one and said, "I'll forever cherish the memory of you."

Let You Break My Heart Again - Laufey, Philharmonia Orchestra

Something was constrained Lucka's throat. Her breath failed to capture the air. The sound of the music mixed with rain blurred into oblivion, replaced by the drumming rhyme of her heart. Yet she refused to look everywhere but him. The weight of his words, the touch of his hand, and the intensity of his gaze deeply impacted her.

The whole situation left her feeling incredibly unsettled. The idea of setting boundaries with General seemed impossible when he had the power to upend her world with such ease. It was frustratingly unfair, and it made her feel vulnerable. She could've hated him without hesitation if he'd been consistently evil towards her. But he was not. And so, there was a lousy impediment because she hadn't forgiven him, leaving her grappling with doubts and conflicting emotions. It was as if her brain was utterly broken, and she couldn't comprehend why she could let him touch her or smile at him so freely. She might forget his awful choices, but she wasn't keen to give any vindication anytime soon.

For a moment, Lucka was a stranger to words as she gazed upon their intertwined hands. The warmth emanating from their grasp permeated her body, igniting a soothing feeling within her chest.

"You'll remember me?" Lucka inhaled deeply. She asked with a weary tone.

"Always."

Lucka searched for his eyes. His usual phlegmatic disposition melted down into something tender. It was the first time he personified such an expression since he apologized, and it was also the first time it made her stomach stir. She found herself drawn in by his openness. Although the alarm in her head rang rapidly, her rational mind commanded her to quit, urging her to maintain a distance. But her instinct wouldn't stop her from consuming his newfound compassion.

"Aren't you afraid of farewell?" She asked with a trace of fragility in her voice. Her eyes had become hot, and she was overwhelmed by the memories of those who had departed from her life.

"No. I'm more afraid if I can't remember you."

Lucka took a faltering breath. "Remembering someone after they're gone, it's the most hurtful feeling."

"Yes. But only with that would keep them alive within me."

"Are you speaking from experience, General?" Lucka laughed bitterly.

The Genenal eyes dimmed. He looked out of the window into the spleen storm. "I used to have a father figure in my childhood. But one day, he was gone. I had searched for him everywhere. But I never knew where he was nor the cause of his death."

The unexpected revelation from the General took Lucka taken aback. He had divulged some personal information about his past that she wasn't aware of. She couldn't help but ruminate if she had missed this crucial detail in the game. She wondered whether they had ever conferred Sephiroth's childhood story before. Perplexed, she asked, "Who are you referring to, exactly?"

"Professor Gast Feremis."

Feeling a stirring stab in her stomach, Lucka swallowed hard and shifted her gaze downwards; with all rap of inches gloom,

a wave of dread washed over her. She couldn't help but think this situation would inevitably lead to another complex and convoluted tale.

The General noticed her shift in demeanor. He cautiously said, "Do you know something?"

Lucka diverted her shaken gaze. "What Shinra had told you?"

"They said he was AWOL. But I know it was the same as dead."

She said carefully, "Yes, he was dead, But in my memory, it was not what happened."

The General lean forward. His eyes dilated in suspicion. "What happened to him?" he said with urgency.

"Are you sure you want to know? Sometimes ignorance is bliss, General."

"Yes. I don't care."

"I thought you don't suppose to know. I'm afraid it'll change the future." Lucka still tried to steer him out.

With an unassured stride, he crossed the room and settled onto the chaise. Despite his usual fierce mien, his eyes seemed to lose their brilliant sheen, and his typically sturdy posture appeared to loosen off. The once menacing General now looked surprisingly fragile. His husky voice cracked as he implored, "Lucka, just tell me. I need to know."

Lucka shook her head. "But what if you can't accept it? The last time I talked to Genesis about the fact of his wound, he was mad and avoided me."

"I'll accept whatever you say. I won't get enraged."

Lucka let out a long sigh and sat beside him. Her hands played with the dress's hem. "Do you remember Aerith? The girl at the Church?"

"Yes."

Lucka glanced at him. She inhaled slowly. "Professor Gast died protecting his wife, Ifalna, and his daughter, Aerith. Because Shinra wanted to take them away."

A sudden and intense crash of thunder jolted her senses, reverberating through the air. The faint tinkling vibration of the window glass failed her ascetic. His eyes turned stony, the pupils narrowing into a thin slit. His nose flared, and his lips closed tight. His jaw clenched sharply, showing the vein across his chilly face.

Meanwhile, the fierce storm showed no signs of abating, persisting with a ferocity that mirrored the tumultuous emotions stirring within the General mind. It was evident the inner upheaval would continue for quite some time. Lucka went completely mute, busy thinking whether she made another great mistake.

He wouldn't go crazy, right?

But he insisted to knew. It wasn't my fault if he was upset.

Shit. He shouldn't know. Even after he slept in the lifestream, he wasn't aware of this fact. Wait. Or did he actually know? The proficiency in the lifestream would tell him everything, right?

"Give me the details," His frigid voice cut through her murky mind.

"What do you want to do with the knowledge?"

"I'll talk to Aerith. The answer I was looking for was actually this close."

"What about Shinra?" Lucka asked warily.

The General closed his eyes. His eyebrows formed a deep alley. "I'll deal with them later after I investigate further."

Lucka nodded. She released a relieved sigh. Thanks, Zeus, he's still sane.

"Please go on."

"Right," Lucka told him everything she knew about what happened to Professor Gast—leaving the details on the Jenova project. Because she believed it was not the right time for him to know that his biological mother was not that alien.

The General listened intently to her. After she finished, he said, "I need your aid to investigate. I hate to bother, but would you help me?"

"It's classified information General. Will you be able to protect me if the Turks find out?"

"I'll protect you with all my might."

Lucka nodded. She knew the words were inducing the context of protecting her from the Turks, but she couldn't stop her stomach from churning. She touched her middle and frowned. Why is this feeling so familiar?

The General brought her back again to reality. "Thank you." He said. His expression already changed. He was far more relaxed than before.

"It's not for free, though?"

The General eyebrows rose, and his lips curled in amusement. "Okay. What do you want in return?"

"Let's make a promise."

"A promise? Alright. What promise?"

"One day, two years from now, when you want to know deeper about your origin, don't investigate alone. Asked me to assist you."

The General looked surprised. "You even know about that?" he said quietly.

"Yes. I know. And I understand the feeling," Lucka said, tapping his hand.

General glanced down at their hands. He took a slow breath. "Okay. I promise."

They stared at each other. Lucka studied how the sullen light softened his features. How they perfectly paint his picturesque halcyon looks, like an immaculate sculpture that rivaled the Olympian God and Goddess statues. As Lucka looked more closely at him for these past months, his physique slowly formed a clandestine satisfaction. Something she would enjoy discreetly because only Zeus knew she was never interested in his look alone since she played the game.

Her prying eyes kept exploring the scene. His satin-look hair flawlessly framed his face. His cat-like eyes glimmered and rivaled a thousand celestial—the General hand suddenly traced the outer line of Lucka's lower lip. In return, she watched how his lips parted unconsciously. And what happened next had been anticipated.

He cupped her face and tilted her head with such grace. His lips moved unhurriedly against hers. The kiss was different from earlier. It was an attentive one. He took an agonizingly long time to devour her. As long as she remembered, Lucka had never really kissed someone before. So she was lacking in many ways. Sometimes she would only follow her lust. And the General would make her learn how to be patient. How to enjoy every sensual touch bit by bit. Of course, Lucka would disregard it as something lame. They were not even a lover. Yet the way he did it offers otherwise. But especially now, Lucka didn't have time for that. She was already aroused. So she couldn't wait any longer for him to make a further move. She pushed him against the wall and straddled him.

"Getting excited, aren't we?" He smirked against her lips.

"Shut up."

I Wanna Be Yours - Arctic Monkeys

Lucka's hand slid behind Sephiroth's black t-shirt. She lifted it above his head and threw it somewhere across the room. Her warm hands roamed his upper body freely while her lips crushed his lips.

She rocked her hips against him and started sucking his tongue. He let her explore his mouth as his hands groped her arse in turns. His hardened cock throbbed after Lucka started humping harder on him.

And he couldn't wait to see her fully naked. He removed every fabric covering her skin and pulled back to ogle at her exquisite body. He murmured in her ear, "Get on your knee, pet."

Lucka kneeled and looked up at him. His eyes dilated in pleasure at the lovely sight. He unzipped his trouser and said, "Come here."

She parted her lips and started kissing the tip. Her hands grasped the balls and squeezed them softly. Her silken tongue licked the veiny shaft. She wadded up and flicked her tongue at the head. One, two, three, and many more. The motion made him hiss in delight. And then—she inserted his length into her little mouth. Sephiroth gasped when she started sucking. He approved by stroking her head affectionately. And that made her move her head quicker.

She squeezed her eyes shut when twirling her tongue inside. Sephiroth raised her chin and murmured, "Nuh-uh. Open your eyes. Look at me."

Lucka did what he ordered. She sucked harder while maintaining eye contact—as he taught her. Although she was still clumsy at it, she was an incredible learner.

"You're such an obedient pet, aren't you?"

Her cheeks turned red. Her teary eyes grew big. Sephiroth chuckled.

"Good... Just like that, keep going." He said between his shallow breath. His hand pulled her hair back while the other clutched at the chaise's edge. His stomach stiffened in anticipation. His gaze ignited into hers as he thrust deeper into her throat and moved along her rhythm. Lucka's eyes widen. Her hands which were covered in precum slid his shaft tighter. Sephiroth threw back his head when she changed the pace and twisted her hands repeatedly.

"I'm—I'm so close," his breath stuttered in his chest.

Sephiroth escaped a long sigh as he was about to come. He knew Lucka was eager to make him reach the climax. The solo ejaculation was delightful but nothing compared to when they both culminated, as he could feel her orgasm too.

The building ardor lurked and crushed his chest. It came as an intense mind-blowing liberation of endorphins, a tingling sensation that surges his body. An all-consuming and euphoric release that grew and grew for seconds while he heard lucka let out an inaudible noise.

He ran his hand through his slick hair. His chest raised up and down unevenly, followed by a wave of relaxation afterward. "Show me what you got," he murmured, lifting her chin.

Lucka opened her mouth to reveal his semen dripping from her mouth.

He drowned in the erotic, astonishing sight; a ravishing girl looked up with a disheveled complexion. Reddened cheeks, weepy eyes, tongue sticking out contained his semen, plumped tits, and down there, her dripping wet pussy. "What do you say, hm?"

"Thank you, sir."

"Excellent," He murmured, satisfied. "Now, spit it out," he said, moving her head to the side. He knew SOLDIER sperm just built differently. He would never tell her to swallow against her will.

"Come here. I'll get you some water." Sephiroth lifted her up and seated her back on the chaise.

He fetched a glass of water from the kitchen, let Lucka drink it clean, then placed the empty glass on the table.

Lucka said, "Thanks."

"You know we're not finished here, right?" he said, lifting her with one hand and hugging her before him. "I'll fuck you really good," he murmured in his honey-like baritone while carrying her to the bedroom.