Chapter Thirteen
Merlin and the Restoration Committee were just as outraged and indignant about Kala-Ansa's latest abominable act when Sephiroth and Zack arrived and told them.
"She did what?!" Leon cried.
"Oh no!" Aerith gasped.
"This is horrible!" Tifa exclaimed.
Cid devolved into a string of angry curses.
"Why can't we go break him out right now?!" Yuffie demanded.
"I'm certainly going to see what I can find out from the officers involved!" Merlin declared. "There must be someone decent at the station!" He promptly teleported out, only to return moments later looking stymied.
"Well? What happened?" Leon frowned.
"I couldn't get in," Merlin said. "There was an anti-magic barrier all around the jailhouse!"
Sephiroth was infuriated. "If we could prove they have that up, it would be obvious that they're lying about Cloud trying to electrocute the building!"
"Of course it won't be that easy," Merlin sighed.
"So what are we gonna do?!" Zack cried. "We can't just let this happen and Seph can't give in to Kala-Ansa's sick demands!"
"How on Earth does she think that's going to work anyway?" Tifa said. "If Sephiroth has to agree to that in front of the entire town, everyone decent will object!"
"She must have some plan to hide her true intentions from the town, surely," Merlin said.
"Let's try this," Leon spoke up. "We'll be in the crowd and surround the stand they've put up with the stake. If we can distract them long enough and get the other townspeople to complain about this farce, maybe Sephiroth can rescue Cloud."
"If they've surrounded the jailhouse with anti-magic barriers, they'll probably do the same thing at the stake," Sephiroth said. "But we'll have to try it."
"I just can't believe the entire police force is in on this," Merlin said. "They must have done something with everyone who wouldn't go along with this nonsense!"
"Maybe sent them on some nonexistent assignments away from here?" Leon suggested.
"Or they could be prisoners too," Merlin said. "As soon as I can get into that building somehow, I'll look for them."
"Our first priority is to save Cloud," Sephiroth said. "Then we'll look for any police who may have objected to this."
Everyone agreed.
xxxx
Cloud was tense and angry as he was prodded out of the jailhouse and to the stake once it was dark. They were binding him to the thing with the anti-magic handcuffs, preventing him from using lightning or teleporting even if he could. The townspeople were gathering in droves, but at least the majority of them looked concerned and upset instead of delighting in the prospect of blood.
"This is horrible!" one woman called. "He was under a spell! You can't kill him for that!"
"He's a dangerous and wicked individual!" Kala-Ansa replied. "This should be proof enough of that!" She grabbed his wing, forcing it to spread out. "No decent person would have a demon's wing!"
Cloud tensed, gritting his teeth. How many times had he thought that himself? He wanted to swat her away, but that would only give her more fuel for her arguments.
The priest from the cathedral came forward. "He was at the cathedral after this terrible incident happened. He was absolutely devastated about it! To execute him would be a tragedy!"
Cloud looked over in surprise. It was moving that the priest remembered him and had come, but he doubted it would make any difference to these bloodthirsty people.
"He's right!" came Leon's voice. "Tifa and I saw him after that and he couldn't take what happened! He didn't mean to hurt Sephiroth."
"Perhaps not that time, but plenty of other times!" Kala-Ansa said. "And that hatred fueled the spell that controlled him last week!"
"So does that mean no one could take bad feelings you've had and warp them into a spell?" Aerith spoke from another direction. "Because if they could, what right have you got to try to condemn Cloud for something like this? It's the Evil Queen you should be executing, if anyone!"
"Silence!" Kala-Ansa snapped.
But now the townspeople were yelling in agreement, shaking their fists at Kala-Ansa and her corrupt police officers.
"Get him down from there!"
"Leave him alone!"
"Execute yourselves!"
Sephiroth suddenly teleported in on the platform, somewhat to his surprise. Why wasn't there an anti-magic barrier there? Something wasn't right. Kala-Ansa was just standing and sneering at him. She had expected him to come.
"I'm taking Cloud," he said coolly to her.
"By all means, try," she said with a calm gesture. That only made him all the more suspicious.
Cloud started and looked to him. "Sephiroth . . . ?!"
"You didn't think I wouldn't come," Sephiroth grunted. He watched Kala-Ansa warily as he focused his magic on the chain holding the handcuffs together and began to bend and break it with his fire powers. Why wasn't she making her sickening proposals?
"No, I knew you would," Cloud said quietly. "But . . ."
Without warning one of the police officers came at Sephiroth from the side. "Stop or I'll shoot!"
Sephiroth turned, forced to devote his attention to knocking the corrupt officer's gun away. At the same moment, Kala-Ansa lunged at Sephiroth from his other side, striking him on the head with a rock. Sephiroth grunted in pain, collapsing to the platform.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud cried.
"Caring about others is your undoing, isn't it, Sephiroth?" Kala-Ansa sneered. "Or would that be, not caring about me?" She rolled him onto his back and ran a hand down his chest. The wings twitched weakly in his displeasure. Sneering, she started petting each one.
"What the heck are you doing?!" Cloud burst out. He strained against the handcuffs. "Stop molesting him already!"
She ignored Cloud and leaned over Sephiroth, running a hand down his cheek. "Sephiroth . . . you are a beautiful man," she hissed. "It's such a pity that you are what you are." She moved closer, running her hands through his bangs. "But . . . in spite of your wings, I'm willing to set you free," she whispered. "Say you'll be mine. Say you'll love me and I'll release you and Mr. Strife." She leaned in, placing her lips against his.
That woke him up the rest of the way. His green eyes snapped open, widening in shock and then disgust as the treacherous woman explored her lustful kiss. All wings came alive, striking her and sending her backwards as she gave a cry.
"Don't touch me again," he uttered, his voice dark and low.
Kala-Ansa straightened, her expression twisting in a grotesque revelation of her soul's true face. "Then you will burn," she vowed. "You and your dear friend."
Sephiroth struggled to sit up, holding a hand to his head. "You didn't even give me the chance to accept or refuse your demands before you hit me," he snarled.
"I wasn't going to take a chance on being refused." Kala-Ansa was undeterred. She came back over and reached out, touching her hands to the edges of Sephiroth's coat. "I could have anyone I desire in this city. No one has captured my attention as you have." She began to push the flaps of dark cloth aside.
Instantly Sephiroth snatched her wrists, forcing them away from him. "You're attracted to my physical appearance," he growled. "You don't care about me."
In spite of the restraint, she attempted to move forward again. "It's because of this spell you put on me!" she screamed. "You're making me want you!" Her eyes flashed. "I despise you. I hate you with every fiber of my being. But this urge, this swelling fire that you planted, is impossible to control."
"You're weak," Sephiroth retorted. "You could control yourself if you wanted to." He continued to hold her back from him, while Cloud could only gawk at the scene. "I didn't put any spell on you," he continued, "and I wouldn't have even if I could. You just don't want to admit that you're capable of such feelings."
"I would never have such wicked thoughts if you hadn't given them to me!" Kala-Ansa's voice was raising all the more. All the townspeople were staring in shock.
Cloud finally pulled free, the chain snapping from being weakened by Sephiroth's attempts. "Are you okay?!" he demanded.
Sephiroth let go of Kala-Ansa and reached to grip Cloud's wrist. "We're getting out of here."
Suddenly they teleported. But Sephiroth was too injured from the blow to his head. Wherever he had meant to take them, they didn't make it there. Instead they fell out of the sky into a frozen snowbank. Sephiroth crashed through the thin ice of a pond right next to it.
Safe on the bank, Cloud stared in horror. "Sephiroth?!"
Sephiroth did not come back up. Teleporting had taken everything out of him after being hurt by Kala-Ansa's rock.
A scream echoed around Cloud as he ran forward, throwing his cloak and boots to the ground. He did not stop to think, to even realize that he had just screamed, or that what he was doing was very dangerous. The only thing that mattered was that Sephiroth could not die.
He dove under the water.
Cloud did not even pay attention to the chill of the water. He kicked his legs, parting the aqueous liquid with his hands as he went deeper. How would he even find Sephiroth, when it was almost pitch black under here? The cloudy night, combined with the snow on the pond's surface, made it almost impossible to see anything. He squinted, frantic. If there was any movement at all, he could not miss it. It would more than likely be Sephiroth.
Was that something a bit lighter down below? His hair, maybe? Cloud swam deeper, reaching out to touch it. That was what it was. It was soft in his grasp. And when he felt around near it, he located a limp arm.
He squinted more, his eyes beginning to adjust to the darkness. Sephiroth's body was limp, all limbs and his neck hanging lifelessly as he sank. Cloud gritted his teeth behind his closed lips. Somehow he had to save Sephiroth. He had to! And Sephiroth had to wake up. Cloud would not be able to support his weight all the way back to safety.
He reached out, grabbing Sephiroth by the belt on his coat. As he more fully got his bearings, he draped the older man's left arm around his shoulders and placed his own right arm around Sephiroth's waist. The lower wings weakly twitched out of reflex.
Come on! he screamed in his mind. Wake up! You have to wake up!
Oh God, let him wake up. . . .
They had already been under far too long. In desperation he reached up with his left hand, clawing at the water as he again kicked with his legs. For good measure, he began to beat his wing as well. Maybe it could serve as an extra arm. He sure needed one right now.
Sephiroth's eyes began to slide open. His head was throbbing. Being in a half-drowned state did not help his awareness, either. But he was still alive. Someone . . . Cloud? It would have to be Cloud, struggling to get him to the surface. But Cloud would never be able to do it all on his own. Sephiroth extended his right arm, sweeping at the water as well. His wings came alive, propelling them further along as he began to kick.
There was really no time to think. But an immense joy washed over Cloud as they continued to strive for the spot of light above them.
At last they burst through, gasping for breath and, in Sephiroth's case, coughing up water. Cloud began to push the other man ahead of him. Sephiroth should get out first. They were right here by the bank. Sephiroth could climb up into the snow and then Cloud would follow him. There was such a feeling of light-headedness washing over Cloud as he struggled to help Sephiroth crawl out the rest of the way. They had both been without air, and Cloud was dressed less appropriately for the weather than Sephiroth. The water, as well as the harsh wind that was greeting them, was chilling him straight through. A weak moan escaped his lips before he could stop it.
Sephiroth could feel Cloud's grip growing weaker as he knelt in the snow, shaking and choking while the rest of the water spilled from his mouth. He looked up, regarding the other in alarm. Cloud was only half out of the pond, and from his loosening grasp and trembling hands, he was going to fall right back in.
An adrenaline rush surged through Sephiroth's veins. He snatched Cloud's wrists, his own hands shaking as he began to pull. Somewhere in Cloud's mind, it registered that he was not continuing to fall. Sephiroth was bringing him forward, out of the water. Sephiroth was not going to let him die. He reached out, gripping Sephiroth's wrists as the older man hauled him onto the bank and into the snow.
Sephiroth cast his gaze around the area. There was a splash of red, right within arm's length. That had to be Cloud's cloak. Sephiroth grabbed it in an instant, pulling it to them. It was not very dry either, really. Snow was all over it. But it was still warmer than what Cloud was wearing. Cloud was trying to kneel now, hugging his arms as his teeth chattered out of his control. Sephiroth wrapped the crimson cape around the younger man, pulling Cloud against his own body. They would need to stay as close as possible for warmth. And under the circumstances, another teleportation was futile. Sephiroth might plunge them right back into the icy depths.
He also grabbed Cloud's boots. While balancing him in position, he leaned over, working with both hands to pull one boot on over a half-frozen foot. Then he repeated the process for the other. At least they were dry on the inside. Sephiroth's were soaked through. He sighed, his breath appearing in the air as he held Cloud closer once more.
". . . You saved my life, Cloud," he said then.
Cloud slumped further against him, grabbing at his forearm with a half-frozen hand. "Good," he mumbled. "That's what I was trying to do. . . ."
Sephiroth held him closer. He could feel Cloud's heart, beating slower than normal. It was obvious that he had been more seriously affected by the water than Sephiroth. And that was a grave concern.
"Will I be able to save yours?" he murmured, only loud enough for himself to hear.
The situation seemed impossible. They were alone. He didn't even know where they were. Were they still in Radiant Garden at all? If they weren't, they could be almost anywhere.
Sephiroth gritted his teeth, spreading his wings for balance as he tried to get his feet under him. Cloud's wing twitched at the movement, but otherwise he did not seem to react. As Sephiroth stood, bringing Cloud with him, the blond could not get his balance. He swayed, crashing into Sephiroth. A weak curse slipped from his bluish lips.
"At least you're still somewhat aware," Sephiroth commented, his tone dry.
Cloud muttered assent.
"Can you walk?" Sephiroth asked.
A vague shrug.
"Try," Sephiroth encouraged.
Cloud balanced himself against Sephiroth, taking a shaking step forward, then another. Sephiroth moved with him, and Cloud slumped against him once more after the second step.
"It's a start," Sephiroth said. "We're going to keep looking for help. Alright?"
Cloud's nod was barely discernible.
As they began to move forward, the falling snow swirling around them, Sephiroth had to wonder if he had made the right decision. They would find out soon, he decided with a grim and morbid smirk.
It seemed like they walked for an eternity before Sephiroth crashed to his knees, his wings spreading out around him in the snow. At his side, Cloud mumbled something that was probably a curse directed towards their misfortune. He slumped further against his friend. Sephiroth could feel Cloud's breath against the side of his face. It froze almost the moment it entered the atmosphere, and Sephiroth gritted his teeth.
It was hard to say how much or how little they had walked. They were both half-frozen from the pond, and the blizzard was still nipping with fury at their backs, wings, and skin. Sometimes the flakes would rush into their eyes, the stinging sensations forcing them to look away and blink and try to clear their vision. Cloud's eyes were still watering from the last time it had happened.
"We have to keep going," he mumbled.
Sephiroth knew that very well. But he also knew they were both practically spent. Somehow he had to try to keep Cloud awake.
"What happened this morning, Cloud?" he asked. "How did Kala-Ansa and her corrupt officers get into your house?"
"I don't know," Cloud mumbled, his voice slurred as he burrowed against Sephiroth's hair. "Something about the floor and the snow coming down . . ."
It was hopeless. Cloud was not making sense. And from the increasing weight, he had either passed out or was getting close to it. Sephiroth kept a firm arm around the younger man, shifting position to bring his other arm around Cloud as well. He could feel the other's body trembling, the leathery wing twitching this way and that.
He was not even certain he could get up again himself. If he managed, he would probably have to carry Cloud. And it could not last for long. His head was throbbing again from the blow he had taken and the longer they were stranded, the worse he felt from the cold as well. He was not going to give up, he would never give up, but at the moment he was at such a loss. What could he do now? His legs were aching and stiff. They did not want to obey his orders to move. His wings felt stiff, too.
He brought Cloud closer to him, shutting his eyes in frustrated despair. There was only one thing left he could think of to do. He had not tried it before. He still did not want to. The very thought made him recoil in horror. He was not worthy. To even think of it seemed blasphemous to him. But . . . when it was for Cloud and not himself, maybe . . . maybe it would be alright. . . . The priest had said the honest in heart were always welcome.
His chapped lips parted. "Oh God . . ." He frowned. He did not feel as though he was being listened to. And it felt all the more awkward to talk if he would not be heard.
"I don't know what else I can do," he continued at last. "My strength is spent. I should not be trying to speak to You. I know I'm unworthy. My sins are unforgivable. Zack is alive, but he could have died those years earlier because I refused to listen to him. We still don't know if his memory will fully recover. But . . ." He hesitated again, struggling to work out what he wanted to say.
"Cloud should not have to die. He risked everything to save me, someone he once despised and hated. And Zack . . . he has always been pure and good. I don't know if he's in danger right now, but if he is, protect him.
"It will devastate him if anything happens to us. We are all he remembers. I can't bear to think of him being hurt again, or for Cloud to be hurt. If there is anything else I can do to get us away from here and to find Zack, please . . . I need to know. For myself I would never ask anything of You. But for Cloud and Zack . . . I am willing to do even what I should not."
He was not certain how to close his sincere prayer. He muttered something under his breath that he thought he remembered was the correct thing to say. And now what? Just wait? Would he receive an answer at all? Would God be disgusted that he would ask at all, even in order to help someone else? Maybe it was stepping out of his place to address God in any way, shape, or form.
But something began to wash over him-a comforting, welcoming assurance. He had been heard. And there was not any sense of revulsion or anger because Sephiroth had strived to make contact. There was only love. He was being received with joy and gladness. For a moment he could not think of anything but that feeling. He was overwhelmed, his heart swelling.
And in his mind, he could hear the answer to his plea.
Zack is alright. Keep Cloud warm as best as you can. It will save both of your lives.
Would it help any to wrap his wings around Cloud? They were chilled, but so were his arms and every other part of his body. His wings were partially waterproof and hopefully could insulate what warmth the two had left. Slowly he moved the feathery appendages around Cloud's barely shivering body. The blond stiffened, but then began to relax.
It was a good thing Cloud was still shaking, though it was a worry that it was so infrequent. When hypothermia would begin to get its deadly hold on a victim, the trembling would stop. And that was just one of the many frightening symptoms.
But they would be found. They just had to hold out a while longer.
"Are you still awake, Cloud?" Sephiroth spoke.
Cloud muttered something unintelligible. But it had the desired effect; Sephiroth knew Cloud was conscious, even if only barely. Had he heard Sephiroth praying? It was not likely that he would have realized what was happening, and it seemed almost sure that he would not remember any of this once they woke up safe and warm somewhere else.
And that was fine with Sephiroth. His communication with Heaven was not for anyone else to hear. Yet he had felt the need to speak aloud. Perhaps because he had only prayed on rare occasions in his life, and saying it aloud made it more real—more respectful, somehow. To say it in his mind, at least right now, would make him feel as though he was thinking it and not saying it, and that he would not be heard. Even though he knew that he would be heard as much one way as the other.
Cloud's wing was twitching more slowly. Sephiroth frowned. That was a matter of concern, too. Did it mean he was losing the strength to stay awake? His body was going more slack.
"Cloud!" Sephiroth demanded, his voice harsh. He was fighting for consciousness himself. He shut his eyes for a moment, then snapped them open again. He could not sleep.
Cloud mumbled. This time Sephiroth heard him.
"Sorry . . . I'm a burden. . . ."
Sephiroth looked down at him. "You aren't," he said. "Keeping you awake keeps me awake."
"Heh. . . ." Cloud gave a weak smirk but soon sobered. "Do you think we'll come out of this one?"
"I believe we will," Sephiroth said. "But I don't know how long it may take."
He looked around. Teleporting would not be possible, but perhaps he could use another of his powers to help them. Weakly waving a hand, he created two small pillars of fire on either side of them.
Cloud snuggled deeper into the wings' embrace. "That feels good," he mumbled.
Sephiroth smiled a bit but then sighed. "I'm sorry this happened," he said.
"Not your fault people think you're irresistible," Cloud grunted.
"Heh. I know. But I wonder . . . if I had been more clear about my feelings for you, would that woman have targeted you?" Sephiroth sighed. "I didn't feel it was her business how I felt."
"It's not," Cloud said. "But you couldn't have known . . . how she'd flip out. How would anyone know? Normal people don't act like that."
Sephiroth smirked a bit. "That's true."
Cloud sank farther against him. "Never thought you'd ever be . . . holding me like this."
"It's rather necessary at the moment," Sephiroth said.
"I know." Cloud's eyes started to sink closed.
"Cloud!" Sephiroth looked down at him. Cloud couldn't hold on to consciousness much longer.
"Sorry I've . . . been such a jerk," Cloud mumbled.
Sephiroth blinked in surprise. "You're just you, Cloud. You've been improving."
"You're . . . my friend. My . . . best friend . . . with Zack."
Sephiroth smiled. Would Cloud remember this later? He had to admit, he wished Cloud would. He hoped they both would.
"I feel the same," he said.
Cloud smiled a bit as he slipped into unconsciousness.
That startled Sephiroth back to the full seriousness of their situation. "Cloud!" This time he shook the other, but to no avail.
In resignation he slumped back. All he could do was continue to keep Cloud warm and pray they would be found. He was not strong enough to teleport.
He looked down at the manacles on Cloud's wrists. He had snapped the chain between them, but as long as Cloud still bore the handcuffs, he would not be able to use magic. Not that he could anyway, in his condition. But if Sephiroth tried to get them off, maybe that would give Cloud some added warmth.
He tried using another fire spell. The heat seared the strange plastic used in the handcuffs, warping and melting it. Finally Sephiroth was able to wiggle each handcuff off of Cloud's wrists. He was free, but still showed no signs of regaining consciousness.
Sephiroth sighed. Naturally he wouldn't.
He didn't know how long he struggled to maintain consciousness after that point. It seemed an eternity. His heart was strong, but he wasn't infallible. His head was still throbbing. Eventually he couldn't hold himself up any longer. He sank down on his side, still holding on to Cloud as his eyes slowly closed.
xxxx
It was strange to be regaining consciousness. That wasn't even supposed to happen in this kind of situation, was it? But Cloud was waking up, his mind clearer than before. Sephiroth was still holding him, all three wings warm. The pillars of fire he had set up were still burning. Sephiroth himself, however, was laying in the snow. He hadn't moved.
Cloud jerked to his knees. "Sephiroth?!" He gripped the other's shoulder. No response. Not giving up, Cloud shook him vigorously. "Sephiroth, get up! Get up!"
Nothing.
Cloud looked around, frantic. "Help!" he screamed, even though he was sure his cry would be lost in the blizzard. They were surely still all alone; if anyone was around, they'd see the fire and come.
Cloud touched his shaking fingers to Sephiroth's neck. No pulse. He knew the adage about not dead until they were warm and dead. That had to apply here. He wouldn't believe Sephiroth was gone. Not after everything they had been through together. Not after . . . not after Cloud had finally realized how dear this man was to him.
"I get it now," he whispered, bending over Sephiroth to embrace him around the neck. "I get why you weren't embarrassed. Even though we don't care in that way, we care . . . so much. And it shouldn't be embarrassing for people to notice that.
"Sephiroth, please . . . wake up. Please. . . ."
Cloud shut his eyes tightly, tears splashing on Sephiroth's cold face. "God, please save him," he whispered. "Or help me save him, if there's anything I can do. . . . I hated him so much for years and I never should have. He loved me anyway and I don't know how he could. . . ." His voice caught in his throat. "He's hurt now because of me again. Kala-Ansa hit him with that stupid rock when he was trying to save me! That's probably why he . . . why he just couldn't last. . . . But . . . I know he didn't want to die. And I . . . I can't lose him. I can't! I don't hate him now. I love him! And I'll freely admit that. I don't care about the gossip. That's just stupid and immature. They can say whatever they want. I just want him back. Please . . . give us another chance. Please . . . !"
Suddenly, in a flash of light, they were in Merlin's living room, on the carpet.
Cloud looked up in shock. "What the . . . ?!"
Merlin gasped. "My stars, what happened?! We've been looking everywhere for the two of you! We found the decent police officers and got Kala-Ansa and her crew arrested, but you and Sephiroth were nowhere in sight! We finally regrouped here to try to decide what else we could do!"
"I . . ." Cloud shivered. "We were out in the snow for hours. Sephiroth kept me warm and somehow I woke up. I guess . . . I teleported us here. He was too hurt to teleport again. . . . I'll tell more later! Please, help him!"
"Of course," Merlin said, hurrying to Sephiroth's side in concern.
Cloud moved back to allow him room. "He's so cold. . . ."
"Naturally he's cold! But this is Sephiroth we're talking about!" Merlin said. "He'll be alright. He saved you so you could save him. Both of you, really! That mysterious teleportation power of yours has brought you back from wherever you were!"
"It brought us back physically," Cloud said. "But Sephiroth . . . he . . . he's somewhere else. . . ."
He swallowed hard. Now that they were out of the snow and he was really focusing on everything, he thought more on all that had just happened in the last few minutes. He had woke up to find Sephiroth did not have a pulse. His strong heart had stopped. And this time there wasn't any magic spell to break to restart it again.
Cloud blinked back the helpless tears. "I got us back, but . . . was it in time?"
Merlin paused in his attempt to cast a warming spell on Sephiroth. "Don't stop believing in him, Cloud," he said. "If you're able, get me some warm blankets. Get one for yourself too!"
Cloud stumbled to his feet. "O-Okay."
"He'll come back to us, Cloud," Merlin assured him with a kind smile. "He won't leave you and Zack."
Cloud slowly nodded. "He'll come back," he repeated. He had to believe that.
He couldn't lose Sephiroth now.