Hey!
Sorry for the lateness, but I was kinda hoping for more reviews *drop* and also a but busy studying irl!
jazzybutclassy28: Thank you! I hope you will like what I have in mind :3
yukio87: Yeah, I intended it that way, you will see where it leads later on!
Now in with the story, enjoy!
[Edit: Omg sorry for the double chapter x.x I somehow labelled them wrong in my document :x]
Actually, that hadn't exactly been true – I just wanted to try to escape this situation. Although, it was really tempting to grab my phone again during getting dressed, taking a shower and having a breakfast...
Sephiroth was already expecting me when I arrived at the training center. It had taken a little longer today due to an accident on the road, caused by some fallen rocks...
I apologized and we started with the training. It basically was the last lesson repeated – only this time, with even bigger monsters. They all didn't move to attack me, but my instructor wanted me to get the feeling of how long it would take - for a beginner like me - to take them down.
It indeed was a hard task as in how much my muscles hurt after the hundreds of sword thrusts and how hot I felt afterwards and during the training.
When I had beaten the biggest monster I had faced so far – a dragon – the General gave me an amused look.
I immediately got unsure and gave him just that kicked puppy dog look. "Something wrong?"
"No, no. Actually, you're the first one to beat all of them in such a short time. I have to say, you are really talented." He smirked and moved up from his bench.
My eyes widened considerably at the compliment. "Are... you serious? I mean, I'm just a beginner..."
The General patted my shoulder after stepping even closer to me. "I'm not joking. You know, I watched every move you made. You really have a good feeling for fighting. You will probably get far here in ShinRa."
The pride washed over me like a summer rain, I was totally out of words. "Th-thank you, Sir..." I managed to stutter out. 'I had no idea that I was good... I'm just following my instincts...'
"Well, I haven't seen much of you yet, but what I've seen looks promising. Of course, you have your flaws here and there, but nothing we cannot fix." Sephiroth had already moved back to his bench to grab the timetable.
"Alright.", I beamed happily.
"Oh, seems like I've got a free slot for you tomorrow already. One of my students got sick. So, if you'd like... At two again, like today?", he looked at me and started scribbling something down when I nodded and said "sure".
"Okay, see you then." He waved and disappeared in the door at the opposite of my dressing room.
Today was a good day. My smile on he way home was so wide that the other people around me already gave me strange looks.
I felt the need to message Sephiroth again as soon as I sat on my bed in the dorms.
*This morning it was too cold but now during training it was too hot...*
After a few minutes, the familiar vibrating.
*Then the jacket probably was too much.*, he answered.
I honestly hadn't even noticed that I had taken a jacket with me. At least now I knew that he was paying more attention to his surroundings than I was. So I replied: *But even without the jacket, it still was :/*
Meanwhile, I started revising a little, thinking it couldn't hurt to learn in bed for a while until getting up.
*Ok... but going out naked would have been a little bad, I suppose ;)*
His answer almost made me choke on my morning coffee. In a mock feigned anger, I replied *Whyy? Do you wanna tell me that nobody wants to see that? D :D* I added a grinning face after the angry one at the end of my sentence to make sure he knew I was joking. I indeed had a big grin on my slightly red face. 'Reminder to self: Thank Zack later.'
*Ha ha, you're funny... Oh, no, on the contrary - we'd probably have a lot of training accidents because nobody would pay attention to what they're doing anymore :) ;)*
*True that... humm. I better go back to studying :)* I was blushing brightly by now, not sure if it was a compliment or not. All of sudden I felt the immense need to thank Zack.
*Hey, you wanna hang out again later tonight? At your app.* I messaged him. A little hesitant I added *... and thanks.* Hoping he'd understand. I didn't really want to write "Thanks for bringing Sephiroth closer to me"... no, that would be awkward.
So for the remaining time until the field training I got some lunch from the cafeteria and tried to remember what Sephiroth told me to improve last time.
"Hmm, I need to work on my speed... and concentrating more... not even going to start about my materia usage..." I almost wanted to plop down on my bed when I thought about that.
But I still had time and based on my theoretical knowledge, I was already closer to taking the exam than most other new recruits (except for Kunsel, he was a genius in that matter).
Therefore my stress level was fairly low, especially with the most recent happenings.
I went to the field training as usual, Sephiroth commented on how this time we would try the martial arts or unarmed style fight - the one I had trained with Kunsel yesterday.
In my mind there was a little Cloud floating, showing a victory sign, however, this time I had a real opponent to face. He did some basic explaining and asked me to show him if I already knew any moves - starting from attacks with the hands and arms. I tried to show him some basic standing positions that we had learned and - of course - he corrected almost all of them.
He gave me a few compliments as well and told me that I was already above average knowledge of those things. "We trained that yesterday", I admitted and scratched the back of my neck. "But I've only read about these techniques before that, so I'm not that good..."
"Don't sell yourself short." He said and quickly moved his arm towards my stomach, but I saw it coming and blocked in time.
"See, you've already got some talent." He then caught me off guard by slipping his leg under my feet, effectively sweeping me down.
I landed on my butt and fell flat on my back ungracefully. The General moved his hand as if to pierce me with his - at the moment nonexistent - Masamune.
"Don't let other things distract you, that can cost your life or that of another SOLDIER. Come here, try again." He helped me up while I still rubbed the back of my head with the other hand.
"Okay, sorry." We tried the same move once again, this time his arm aimed for my throat. I evaded it and jumped up right when his legs made a move to trip mine again. This time, it worked and I lunged forward to throw Sephiroth down.
He didn't expect that - and this time, we both landed on the floor. He was on his back with me half sitting and half lying on top of him, receiving a confused look.
"Okaay... that is one way to handle the situation..." I could see the corners of his mouth twitching up. From what I felt like, I must have been looking like a confused puppy... who still wasn't getting up.
"However, next time, you should try to follow what you've learned. It's dangerous for you as well, for example if the enemy throws you off..." He rolled to the side, getting me off him in the process "... or he could have a short ranged melee weapon like a knife... Or teeth and claws... and then you're on the ground as well and probably as helpless as you are now."
Sephiroth raised his hand as if to stab me.
I blushed even though he cheekily ignored the fact that I had basically jumped on top of him... on accident of course.
'Way to make an ass out of yourself again, Strife', my mind told me but the General helped by explaining me again.
When we tried it again this time, it worked so after trying it once more and succeeding, we moved on to more basics for unarmed fight.
He praised me more than once after the awkward situation we had been in, probably so I wouldn't feel like an idiot. I gladly accepted that and was almost sad when our session ended.
"As for the next lesson... Hmm. Today's Saturday... I'm not sure yet, so I will message you, is that okay?", he offered as I got dressed again.
"Sure", I smiled.
"And don't be so hard on yourself, I've really had worse SOLDIERs." I guessed that was his way of telling me that I wasn't all too bad.
My smile widened even further when I saw the ghost of one tug at his lips as well.
"Zaaaaack!" I knocked on his apartment door.
A muffled noise was audible, then a clink. "Owww!" Thumping noises, as if he was jumping on one leg.
I facepalmed and sighed softly.
He opened the door, looking as I had expected. "... What happened?"
"Huu...", he slurred and I noticed that he already must have had a drink or two.
"She's gonna go out with me! The flower lady!" He screamed and hugged me tightly.
I tried my best to drag him along with me, inside his apartment.
Not knowing how to react, I simply said "Uhm... Congrats?"
The raven haired finally let go of me and jumped back on the sofa. "So, I decided to already start celebrating. Here, take a beer as well."
His grin was as wide as usual while he was offering me a beer. I took it, still a bit confused. "Why's that so special, though? I thought many girls wanted you... one more or less..."
"Nono, you don't understand...", Zack started, licking the bottle opening casually. "This time... I actually want her, too! And have been for a while... now I finally took all the courage to ask her out."
He sounded so proud that I had to smile as well. "I'm happy for you." I said in all honesty.
"Thanks... and how about you? Any crush goin' on, Spike?" My friend teased me, winking.
I denied it but had to look away in order to hide my blush when pictures of a certain silver haired male appeared before my eyes.
"Ooooh~! Who is it? Come oon, you can tell me! Is it that nice girl back from your hometown? Oooor..."
"Nooo, I'm serious, there isn't anybody." I defended myself.
Zack seemed to buy that answer, which I was glad for. "Humm, that's too bad... I would miss not being able to hug anyone... who's completely mine~!" He started hugging a pillow and making kissy faces, which I would have considered funny, if he didn't remind me of today's field training with his words.
What I had done after I fell on top of Sephiroth wasn't exactly hugging... But neither me nor (I guessed) he did seem to mind the contact much. I had to admit, being close to the General made me feel kind of special...
"Zack, tell me..." I started nervously, "... does Sephiroth like hugs?"
"... Ooooohh~!", my friend teased in a flirty voice.
"No." I cut him off before he could start anything weird again. "I mean... because you hug him all the time. If he didn't like it, he'd probably push you away...?" For once I was glad that Zack's living room was so sparely lit - therefore I could easily hide my small blush. Besides, he was still busy with his pillow in one and his beer in his other hand.
He blinked and thought for a second. Then he blurted out "Yes! Even though he obviously wouldn't admit it in public, he really likes it. I was also unsure at first, but I quickly figured out that he really did like it. You see... just don't tell anyone. We can't have everyone walking around hugging the General whenever."
"Really?" One of my eyebrows dropped in uncertainty. 'His face was rather amused than angered or disgusted...'
"Yes, he really doesn't mind." Zack smiled widely.
"... thought so.", I muttered silently.
"Pardon?", my friend grinned.
"... Nothing." I turned my head and took a few sips out of my beer. The corners of my lips twitched up in amusement that the great war hero liked hugs. But he was just human, after all... and even he would need that sometimes.
Zack then returned to telling me about how he asked his girl out - in detail of course - and I noticed how new I still was to this dating thing. My last girlfriend had been a few years ago, back in my hometown... and I'd never felt any attraction towards anyone after that, until...
I shook my head to get rid of that thought, excusing myself with "there was a fly" when Zack asked.
"... and now we have a date in three days! Isn't that amazing?" He bobbed up and down on the sofa, smile never leaving his face.
"Yeah, that's great." I smiled, putting down my empty beer bottle. "I think I should get going, it's already dark outside."
"Alright, I'll bring you to the door!"
My raven haired friend hugged me goodbye before I left his apartment, walking back to the main ShinRa building. The sun had already set a while ago, quite early as it was winter. I looked up to the night sky which strangely was unclouded. A fresh breeze blew through my hair and tugged on the dark scarf I had taken with me from my old home.
Suddenly, I saw a dark figure marching my direction. He was strangely tall, taller than anyone I usually saw on the way home, and... had long hair... silver in color...
"Ah... hey!" I called after getting a bit closer to him.
He looked up from whatever he had been looking at - a small black book, probably another schedule or notebook.
"Hey", he answered and stopped in front of me. "Where have you been so late in the evening?" He asked in a voice of doubtful, mock authority.
"I've been at Zack's, Sir." I joked, deciding to join his little game by saluting him.
He smirked. "Oh, I see, that's where I'm going now.", the General said and put a hand on my shoulder.
Once again I was glad that it was dark, otherwise my slight blush would have betrayed me. It even grew when I thought further... 'Sephiroth likes hugs... Sephiroth likes hugs... Sephiroth likes hugs...' I tried to build up all courage I had inside me.
"... Then I wish you a nice evening and a good night, Sir!" With those words I stepped a step forward and wrapped my arms around the tall man's slim body.
My eyes were closed tightly when I only got a sound of surprise as a reaction. When I noticed that his arms stayed in place beside him and not - as usual while hugging - around me, I suddenly felt ridiculously stupid and let go of him. I looked up into his eyes to search for rejection - but found nothing but astonishment.
"... Zack told me you like hugs", I explained myself, blushing brightly, my gaze turning to the floor.
I was still standing as close to him as when I had embraced him so I noticed how his body started to tremble before he erupted into loud laughter. It was the first time that I heard the General laugh and it gave me a feeling mixed of kicked puppy and confusion. If I hadn't felt like the last idiot on earth before - when he had given me an absolutely puzzled look - then I did now.
When Sephiroth's laughter had finally died down, he noticed my sad puppy eyes. He was still grinning, but to my surprise, pulled me against him with one arm... hugging me.
"That silly man, I'ma have to slap him", he mumbled and I heard the amusement still evident in his voice.
I was too busy blushing to answer something to that and before I could show any signs of physical reaction by returning the hug, he already let go of me again.
"Thanks for the laugh, haven't had that in a while." The General said and patted my spiky hair.
I returned his smile - still not sure whatever had just happened - and watched him turn around.
"Okay, time to go to Zack, not sure what he wanted to tell me... See you in class or field training, I'll message you." He waved with his back towards me and I managed to call out a quick "See you! And... you're welcome?"
When I turned around as well, I had the biggest smile on my face. It was in face so big that after a few minutes of walking, my cheeks really began to hurt.
My brain was still busy processing what had just happened. 'I hugged Sephiroth... Sephiroth hugged me...!' I knew I was blushing furiously, but thankfully there weren't many people around at this time of the day and after entering my room, I knew that I was safe anyway.
If Kunsel wasn't in bed yet then he probably was studying. As for Zack... Beside all the awkwardness and confusion, I decided that I really owed him one now. 'Wait, Zack asked him to come... Then he's probably gonna tell him about that flower girl too... And Sephiroth looked all seriously, as if Zack depicted it as an important matter...' I had to snicker at that thought. 'Yes, he is probably getting a slap today... or two...'
I grinned, thinking about the hugs again. There wasn't much to say about them since they had been pretty short and full of confusion on both sides. If there'd ever be a second time, it'd have to go better... I decided.