Final Fantasy VII

Anthem of a Man With a Broken Wing

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters are not mine and the story is! I have been wanting to do a new version of my story Redemption of Broken Wings, in which Zack learns about Sephiroth's wing, for a while. The old story is not Crisis Core compliant and I wanted to see how it would go in that setting. I'm writing it for Day 3 of Sephiroth Week 2024, Prompt: Feathers.

Sephiroth gave a weary sigh as he stared down at the photographs on his desk. So many Genesis clones, all bearing wings the same as the man himself. Even after Genesis's apparent suicide at Modeoheim, the clones continued to wreak havoc everywhere. It was exhausting trying to keep up with them all. When would it ever stop?

Zack entered the office and plopped down in the chair, looking as weary and discouraged as Sephiroth felt. "What've you got there, Seph?" he asked.

Sephiroth passed one of the pictures across the desk. "Just these."

Zack looked at it and frowned. "That's messed-up."

"The clones or the wings?" Sephiroth found himself asking.

Zack started at the unexpected question. "The clones," he said in surprise. "Genesis destroyed so many lives by helping Hollander make those clones and having them go out to fight us."

Sephiroth nodded. ". . . What do you think of the wings?" he asked. "Do you think that makes them monsters?"

Zack's stomach turned. "Why are you asking that, Seph?" It hurt his heart to think of his first, knee-jerk reaction to wings on humans. Thank Gaia Cissnei had set him right on that before Angeal had revealed that he had wings too.

"Genesis certainly believed it," Sephiroth said. "Which only makes what he did to those people all the more abominable."

Zack shifted in the chair. "Angeal had wings too," he said. "He wasn't a monster." He frowned. "The wings shouldn't make any difference. It's what people do and say that makes the difference."

Sephiroth smiled a bit. "I hoped you'd feel that way about it," he said.

"Why, Seph?" Zack asked again.

But Sephiroth just shook his head. "Nevermind that now." He put the pictures in a folder and got up to place it in a file cabinet. "It's not the right time to talk about it."

"So . . . when will it be the right time?" Zack retorted.

"Soon, perhaps," Sephiroth said. "But not here."

Zack closed one eye and frowned at him. "You're sure being mysterious."

"Heh." Sephiroth smirked a bit. "I always am, aren't I?"

"Yeah, and it drives me crazy!" Zack said. He sighed. "But you wouldn't be you if you weren't, I guess." He managed a smile. "So in that way, I like it."

Sephiroth had to smile too. "You have an interesting way of looking at things."

Zack grinned. "It's one of my best points!"

"I don't disagree," Sephiroth said.

It was several nights later when Zack wandered into Sephiroth's quarters after a long and late mission. He yawned, blinking away the sleep from his eyes. He had promised to visit Seph when he got back, no matter how late it was, and he wanted to keep that promise.

The large black feathers scattered in the entryway gave him a start. He bent down and gasped as he picked one up and held it to the light. Why were these here? Had Genesis clones actually had the gall to bust in here?

"Seph?!" he called. He ran into the apartment, heart racing. "Seph, are you okay?!"

Sephiroth emerged from his bedroom, wearing only his pants and drying at his hair. "Yes, I'm fine," he said. But he stiffened at the sight of the feather in Zack's hand.

"Then maybe they're hiding in here and haven't got to you yet!" Zack exclaimed. "We've gotta look everywhere!"

"Zack." Sephiroth went over to the boy and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. No one has broken in."

"No, they must have!" Zack cried. "Unless you already beat them or something!"

Sephiroth heaved a sigh and reached to shut the door. "I should have cleaned those up," he said. "I didn't mean for you to see them and be afraid for my safety."

"Seph . . ." Zack waved the feather at him. "What's going on? Why isn't this something to worry about?!"

"Genesis clones didn't drop those feathers," Sephiroth said at last. "The reason why I asked you what you thought of wings on humans the other day was because . . ." He hesitated again, then seemed to come to a decision. "I wanted to make sure I could trust you. I . . . don't want to keep things from you."

Zack just stared at him. He knew what that sounded like, but . . . was it true? Did Seph really . . .

The sudden unfurling sound was familiar to him by now. He stared more, stunned by the sight of the large and beautiful wing. It wasn't awkwardly shaped like Genesis's was, but was more like Angeal's, only black instead of white and bigger.

Zack went over closer, reaching out a hand to touch the soft down. Sephiroth let him, the wing trembling slightly as Zack touched it and then slowly relaxing.

"How long have you had it?" Zack asked softly.

"A long time," Sephiroth replied. "Mine grew in before the others' did. I kept it secret from everyone. I felt tainted, monstrous. I wanted to rely on my own skills, not on something the scientists wanted to force on me."

"Genesis and Angeal never knew?" Zack said in surprise.

"I tried to tell Genesis after his grew in," Sephiroth admitted. "When it happened to him as well, I didn't see him as a monster. I tried to comfort him, but he only flew into a rage. He said our wings were different and mine was perfect, as always. He seemed to hate me even more for having a wing. He deserted SOLDIER right after that."

". . . You blamed yourself," Zack sadly realized.

"Yes, I did," Sephiroth said. "I didn't even try to tell Angeal when he also grew wings."

Zack frowned, continuing to pet the wing. "I like your wing, Seph," he said. "What the scientists did to you guys was just rotten, but you don't have to be ashamed of this."

Sephiroth smiled. His eyes still held pain from the memories, but the smile was genuine. "Thank you. I hoped you would feel that way about it."

Zack smiled back. "Sure."

Sephiroth set the towel aside on the edge of the couch. It was even later at night now and Zack had fallen asleep on the couch with him. His hair was finally dry, but now he couldn't move without disturbing Zack.

"Seph . . ." Zack mumbled peacefully, snuggling against his shoulder.

Sephiroth had to smile in touched amusement. How long had it been since anyone had actually wanted to be with him so much?

Too long.

Quietly he unfurled his wing again and lowered it gently around them both. They could just rest here for now.

Zack seemed perfectly alright with that. He burrowed against the wing with a happy smile.

And for the first time, Sephiroth didn't feel that it made him a monster.