Summary: She never would have imagined it would have ended like this: in a damp, dark cell, a disembodied voice that offered very little comfort and a captor that vaguely reminded her of an old friend. This wouldn't end like this, not for her. Warning: SephirothxZack, SephirothxAerith, non-con.
Chapter 1
Distractor
Aerith pulled a seat from the table, perfectly organized with a range of forks and spoons, each with its own purpose. There was a small candle, offering little light or smell, flickering at the breeze fluttering from the window.
"It's too much, isn't it?" Zack questioned, watching her nervous toil with the edge of her seat, adjusting herself in incriminates towards the table.
"I think it's lovely," she peeped, sliding the candle around the repurposed wood. It was in style, Aerith mused, for the Upper Plate to rummage around for wood on the ground. It was in style, but so much a necessity for the Slums.
Zack knew Aerith would have been nervous the moment he invited her to the Upper Plate. She was so unsure of herself but he knew she would do it for him. This made his stomach sink; was he pushing her too much? They did make a compromise to meet at night when the sky was most closed.
"I read good reviews," Zack attempted to strike up a conversation, distracting her from the window.
"I think it's lovely, Zack," Aerith reassured, eyes drifting to the menu placed in front of her. "I'm feeling like red meat."
"You hate red meat."
Aerith chuckled. "I'm feeling," she paused, raising her eyebrows and leaning forward, "dangerous."
Zack smiled. "You look beautiful, by the way."
Aerith smiled in return, adjusting her bow to centre across her torso. Zack was so forthcoming when it came to compliments. She assumed he often shared what he thought at a whim to all the women in his life. He was very unlike him. Aerith shook her head, thoughts of silver tendrils linked in her fingers tossed around to oblivion. Aerith's bow suddenly felt suffocating. Face flushed, Aerith excused herself to the restroom. Aerith made way to the restroom in the back of the small restaurant, pushing through a tightly woven seating plan. Aerith felt so transparent, fidgeting with her bow; she knew it was a bad idea to agree to escape the safety of the Slums. She was quick to blame Zack for his insidious pressuring but knew it would have happened one way or another.
The restroom was lined with mirrors and Aerith could see her bow had made its way to her back. She chuckled nervously to herself as she checked the restroom stalls for feet. She locked the door and slid to the floor, air escaping tightly wound lips. She was safe. She was away from him. How long had it been since he stopped responding to her text messages? Eventually, she took the hint and refused to play a game that would lead her to feelings of childhood rejection. She remembered the night she saw him after so many years of being separated. It was in a backroom nightclub, one that she was unaware of its existence, a place that sold the idea of seediness and Slum debauchery to the Shin-Ra managers who were looking for a quick bathroom lay. She knew that he was just as surprised to have seen her, short skirt leaving much to be desired. He whispered in her ear, when Zack was out of sight, how much he had missed her warm presence, hand trailing up her bare arm. She said nothing but melted in his embrace.
"I miss you," she texted, finally giving in to a desire that was beyond her. Aerith noticed her dress had made its way above her knees; it was then she debated whether to send racy photos, enticing a response from him after not hearing from him for months. Thoughts quickly dashed when she heard a loud band at the door, the door shaking behind her head.
"Aerith?" Zack called out above the enrapturing live jazz band, "Is everything okay?"
Aerith stood up quickly and unlocked the door, beaconing Zack to enter. She pulled him in by the wrist, cackling with delight. Zack, with all abandon, snuck in, locking the door behind him.
"What's going on with you?" Zack asked, suddenly hushed by Aerith's lips. He could taste it, the almost waxy taste of her lip gloss, chastened with artificial cherry. He loved that lip gloss, giving off a rosy tint whenever she wore it, tying every one of her pink outfits together. Aerith was wearing his favourite dress, one that cut off mid-thigh and swooped at the neckline. She wasn't the most graceful but certain could pull off a dress like that. He traced the outline of her dress with the palm of his hand, giving into Aerith's feverish tongue -waxy cherry gave way to Banoran merlot, a few glasses they shared to dampen Aerith's anxiety before leaving the Slums.
His hand reached the bottom of her dress, fingers interlocking with the hem and pulling upwards. What nerve, Aerith joked to herself. She decided to meet his movement in kind and tugged at his hair at the nap of his neck, pulling his head to the side and taking a bite of soft flesh.
Zack suddenly pulled back. "What are you doing?"
"I just, I just thought," Aerith stammered slightly. She remembered he enjoyed the concept of her bites, vying for control. Zack was different, Aerith needed to remind herself of that: he was pure vanilla, a true puppy.
"I think I should take you home," Zack spoke in a hush, eyes darting to the floor.
"Why?" Aerith laughed. Zack said nothing but began unlocking the door. Wasn't this what he wanted? He was always insinuating that they hadn't had sex yet. It boiled her to no end. On her eighteenth birthday, it nearly came close until Zack noticed how drunk they both were and like a good knight backed off. She felt so anxious around Zack but noticed how smooth and enticing it was to express her own sexual desires to the man on the other side of her texts.
Zack noticed it as well. She wasn't doing this for him. He wasn't an idiot despite what she thought of him.
Zack dropped her off at the train station; despite his incessance to drop her off at her house. Like a good knight¸, Aerith thought to herself. Aerith offered a chaste kiss on Zack's cheek, fingers brushing gently against hair. He brushed her hair in return with his callous hands, rough skin snagged against the silk bow in her hair.
"Good night, Aerith," Zack spoke softly in her ear.
Aerith parted without a work, leaving Zack to ponder. She would text the mystery man tonight, he knew, and he knew he had to pay a visit. Suddenly pressed with bravado, he took a taxi to his superior's penthouse condo where he knew he would be on a Friday night.
Zack pounded at the door, a sense of urgency and a fury burning through his chest and arms. His open palms collided with the thick polished door. "I know you're in there!" He began screaming over the soft melody playing inside.
The door peeled open slowly as Zack was in mid-swing, palms colliding with nothing but air. "Hello, Fair. Would you care to come in?" Sephiroth's voice melded well with the melodic singing in the background, gracing Zack's frustration and easing it into panged arousal.
Zack pushed forward. "I know you've been talking with Aerith," he spoke so bluntly that Sephiroth was momentarily taken aback, his demeanour shifting slightly.
"You're upset, I see." Sephiroth gestured to his cabinet against the wall, "would you care for a drink?"
"Fuck you, Sephiroth," Zack snapped.
"Yes," Sephiroth, ever so cold, picked up his glass of Nibel whiskey and languidly placed it to his lips, "fuck me."
Zack pressed his body against Sephiroth's, adjusting his height so that he could reach at eye level. Without saying another word, Zack grabbed hold of his superior's neck and pulled his head forward tongue finding its way into his mouth. Sephiroth did not protest but allowed the man to take hold and claim some sense of dignity; after all, he did steel Zack Fair's girlfriend right from under their noses.
Zack began humming with delight, tongue easing down past Sephiroth's teeth, striking at the tongue that lay dormant. Sephiroth did so in kind; it would be rude to let the man's effort go to waste. Zack, with fury still burning a hole within him, began tugging at the silver hair around Sephiroth's neck, snapping the man's head upwards and exposing flesh beneath. Zack plundered the tender skin with a dichotomy of warm tongue and cold teethy bites. Sephiroth smiled to himself allowing the man to proceed, wondering how far it would take him. Perhaps the bedroom he meticulously kept these days? Or the kitchen counter? Or perhaps the cool leather couch he so terribly hated? Sephiroth smiled outwardly when Zack stopped suddenly.
"What's the matter, Zack Fair? Lost your will?"
Zack's tongue snapped against his teeth, "you're liking this too much."
"Should I protest then?"
"Have you slept with her yet?"
"You don't want the answer to that, Zack." Sephiroth pulled open the cabinet door; even if Zack refused his drink, he would need it now. "Have a seat," Sephiroth's hand gestured to the couch in the living room, the one he hated with utmost passion but seeing as he rarely stayed in Midgar he allowed its existence in his house. Zack took the generous offer, adjusting the blanket elegantly and effortlessly placed on the armrest. Sephiroth watched from the corner of his eye, a vision once described to him as feline, and quietly poured a drink.
"I rarely see you in Midgar now. Especially with Genesis and Angeal gone, it has been way too quiet," Zack commented, accepting the drink Sephiroth poured with care.
"Why? Are you lonely?" Zack responded with a click of his lips over the rim of the glass and a roll of his eyes. Sephiroth knew his presence, or lack thereof, would be apparent to the media and to his subordinates. He had become enthralled with a new past-time now that the war in Wutai had subsided to nothing more than espionage missions. "I have some affairs to deal with in Mideel," Sephiroth answered truthfully. Why hide it from the puppy Angeal enjoyed so much?
"Does Aerith know?"
Sephiroth smiled over his glass, canines making contact with the rim of the glass slightly, making a near inhumane amount of noise. "Would you like for me to tell her?"
Zack shrugged, "I guess we can keep it between you and me. What's the business you have there?"
Sephiroth pondered for a moment, swirling the lone ice cube in his glass, "I've been conducting experiments."
"Experiments?"
"Yes. Something to pass the time." Sephiroth chuckled, a wisp of air caressing his chest.
Zack looked at his glass, the alcohol was gone. Zack looked up to Sephiroth, tongue rapidly weighing a tonne in his mouth. Sephiroth was watching, watching as Zack's head swerved to the side, eyelids dragging slowly as Zack began to fight the effects.
"I never suspected this to work," Sephiroth began to explain. "I was so certain it would take more than one glass. Thankfully you seemed thirsty."
"What…," Zack sluggishly pulled himself from the couch, falling back as soon as his legs gave way.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of you, Zack Fair," Sephiroth adjusted Zack on the couch, allowing him some rest. Zack was filled with hate and confusion. Zack would make a good addition to his research, Sephiroth assured himself. Genesis, and Angeal would certainly welcome their new brother with open arms.
A/N: Sephiroth collects test subjects.
SephirothxZack, SephirothxAerith, SephirothxOC... essentially what would happen if Sephiroth was with everyone.
Song: Mars Simula, Chevelle.