Warnings: semi-AU, slight OOC-ness, Angsty, heartbroken puppies, SH, shounen ai, excessive abuse of smileys in texts :D
Ohai! It's been a long time since I've written an English fanfic... or even had english classes X'D
SO I'm looking for a beta reader :3 I'd be glad if someone could do that since I'm not a native english speaker and feel like my english has gotten worse since the discovery of a certain illness i've got... well, let's not talk about that!
Anyway, I'd be glad about comments regarding my english/story/questions you have and yeah, beta readers pm me :3 (I might even throw in some moniez if my english has GOT that many mistakes :D)
When I refer to Cloud and Seph writing SMS, I call it SMS/ texting/ messaging... well, you get what I mean!
Apologies in advance for OOC-ness, I've never played FF7 in english so I don't really know how they talk
Also, let me know if I should remove any of the warnings/intro if it's too spoiler-y... I mean, I just don't want you to go out there and think everyone who falls in love will become happy with that person, admitting love after a week and marry after 2 more...
The title is what I thought fit best for it - "To have and not to hold" from Madonna. You can google the lyrics if http:*/*/tinyurl.*com/ouu7ddv doesn't work :3
Well... on with the fic!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
*Texting*
(Cloud adding in his thoughts)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, sadly!
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It had been a few weeks since I had started the training at ShinRa Electric Power Company. Up until now, we had learned about the basic theory of fights, invasions, capturing and everything that a SOLDIER had to do on a daily basis.
The instructor - which made everyone especially proud - was nobody but the feared General and war hero himself - Sephiroth.
I had heard a lot about him from my friend Zack, who apparently was something like Sephiroth's right hand.
Not only from him but also on TV and from basically everyone around at SOLDIER.
As for me, I didn't want to follow the other people's opinions, but make one myself by seeing him with my own eyes.
Now, after those few weeks had passed, I had figured why Sephiroth was so popular.
As I had noticed, he was formidable and authoritative - but in an unexpectedly positive way. He treated the other new recruits with respect, was friendly - and he made his class interesting to follow.
I would have thought of that as surprising facts - because I had definitely heard about him being a ruthless monster or killer as well... at least from the old housewives in my village.
Seeing it as this, I was about to head the same way by joining SOLDIER.
Beside that... As I observed with Zack as Sephiroth's secretary, he seemed to be pretty easygoing in his free time with people close to him as well, giving his sub-ordinary an occasional hug or headbutt.
Speaking of Zack - I was going to hang out with him today after classes for a drink or two and a movie.
When everybody started packing after the lesson ended, I got a little nervous because of the thing I was about to do.
Since I had been in quite many of Sephiroth's theoretical lessons before, it was about time to start the physical field training.
I was hesitating a bit. I knew that there were three instructors to choose from, but I didn't know Angeal and had never even seen Genesis before – or not that I knew. Therefore, choosing Sephiroth did seem logical to me...
Beside that, I had gotten used to his teaching methods and liked them.
So I scratched together all my courage to ask the General.
"Uhm, Sir...", I started, watching Sephiroth turn around.
The serious look on his face didn't help to fix my unsureness. "About the field training." I gulped. "Do I get to choose my instructor or is it random?"
The silver-haired man opened his mouth slightly, then spoke. "No, you can choose. Why are you asking?"
I was fidgeting with my hands by now. "Well, I was thinking of choosing you because I know you most of all three instructors and like your teaching methods. I can't tell from the other two because I don't know them..."
"Hm," Sephiroth got up from his seat, stepping closer to me.
"You have to know, my timetable is extremely full since it's close to examinations. We've been literally overrun with recruits this year, so I'm pretty stuffed..."
My eyebrows furrowed. "I really don't mind that! I'd really like you as my field training instructor!" I stopped myself immediately, thinking I had scared away the other man with my outbreak.
I didn't expect the next thing, however - when I felt a warm hand on my upper arm, very slowly sliding down to my elbow, while a silky voice spoke softly: "Of course you can train with ME, too." - with an actual smile on his face.
I only realized what he had said after the warmth of the General's hand left my arm and my own mouth turned into a grin. "Really? That's great! Thank you!", I beamed.
Sephiroth turned to check my timetable. After a bit of turning pages, he rose his voice. "How does next Thursday sound? At two pm?"
"Sounds fine!", I exclaimed happily.
"Alright. I'll see you in class on Monday, then." He waved me goodbye with the neutral expression back on his face and left the room from the teacher's exit.
I, myself, headed out the other way with the biggest smile on my face. Not only had I gotten the instructor I wanted – no, I also still felt a slight tingling on my right arm where the General had touched me not so long ago.
It sure was a small gesture – one of assurance – but the way he had done it ever so slowly gave me little butterflies in my stomach. "Woah, what am I thinking...", I whispered to myself. "I can't be falling for that man. Not over such a simple thing."
"Huh, what'd ya say?" A familiar voice called from behind me.
I jumped "Ahh, Zack! Don't surprise me like that."
"Don't 'ahh' me. Thought we were supposed to meet after your class. Forget already?"
My eyes widened. "Sorry! No, I didn't forget. Or, actually, I did... But that's because Seph-"
"Because Seph what? Huh? Tell me, tell me!" Zack jumped up and down next to me.
"Ahh, calm down, stop hopping around. He said he'd be my field training instructor. That's all." I ran a hand through my hair, rolling my eyes. 'At least he didn't hear the second part of what I mumbled to myself...'
"Really? I thought he was too full at the moment to accept new trainees. You must have gotten lucky." Zack nudged my shoulder to make me look at him, followed by a wink. "People don't say that he is the best for nothing".
I rubbed my shoulder. "Nah, he told us that Angeal, Genesis and him are all equally good trainers. I only chose him because I don't know the other two. Only seen Angeal like twice, and Gen... never before."
"Ye, they're pretty good too, but since everyone is going all googly-eyed over the General himself... I'd say I'm surprised he found a free slot for you."
I couldn't keep the grin from my face. I was really looking forward to the real training outside – with swords, Materia and real enemies, not only talking about them.
The two of us headed over to ShinRa's pub where Zack explained me a little about sword techniques and even decided to give me one of his own broadswords to train with. I thanked him before I went to my dorm alone.
Let me know what you think! :3