"Shadows of Midgar"
Chapter 1: The Thorn in the Arrow
In the dark depths of the Shinra building, the atmosphere was tense as an important meeting was held between the top brass. Some of them rushed in and out of a private suite, suffering from the oppressive heat and the ever-increasing political pressures.
Cloud Strife, a first-class SOLDIER and the most promising rookie Shinra had ever seen, waited patiently outside the main door of the building. He had received an urgent call from Angeal Hewley, his immediate superior and mentor, urging him to attend this emergency meeting. He had never been called upon for something like this before and it intrigued him...
As Cloud waited, he heard the murmurs and laughter coming from within the building. Suddenly, the door opened and a tall, elegant man with long silver hair and a calm, cold face stepped out to meet him.
— Cloud —Sephiroth said, his voice as soft and calm as a glacial river—. I am glad to see you here. Your presence honors us.
Cloud was taken aback by Sephiroth's special treatment. None of the superiors had ever addressed him in such a manner before. The general extended his hand to shake Cloud's, who, with an automatic gesture, offered it to him.
— Cloud, your combat prowess has impressed me. I hope this occasion will be just as exciting.
To which Cloud responded with a simple:
— Thank you.
After that exchange of polite words, Sephiroth led Cloud to Angeal Hewley's office. When they arrived, they found him and other high-ranking officers gathered around a large table. Angeal addressed the young SOLDIER with a serious expression.
— Cloud, I need you to join me in my investigation into a possible incident in Sector 5 —he explained—. Apparently, one of our cleanup operations has resulted in more casualties than anticipated.
Sephiroth joined them, watching with interest as Angeal explained the details. Cloud noticed that the general kept his eyes fixed on him for a long moment, which made him feel uncomfortable. Sephiroth then turned to Angeal and asked,
— What do you think is going on in Sector 5, Angeal? Is there a problem with our cleanup?
Angeal took a deep breath before answering.
— Unfortunately, yes. Our informants in the sector have reported an excessively high number of civilian deaths following the operation. We cannot rule out the possibility of a flaw in our strategies or misinterpretation of intelligence.
Angeal's response confirmed his suspicion that something was amiss. Sephiroth was receptive and curious, which intrigued Cloud, who was already beginning to uncover the complexity behind the general's cold and distant appearance.
Sephiroth nodded calmly, his countenance unfazed. However, his tone of voice changed slightly as he spoke.
— I understand. We must investigate this incident further. Cloud, I would like you to join me in this analysis. Your fresh perspective might be useful.
Though surprised, Cloud nodded and pledged to help. No other superior had ever asked for his collaboration in such a way.
Sephiroth instructed them to begin their investigation in Sector 5 immediately. As they descended the elevator from the building to the outside, Cloud noticed that the general remained quiet, absorbed in his own thoughts. It was strange to see Sephiroth so silent, given his expansive and talkative nature.
Suddenly, Sephiroth broke the silence with an unexpected question.
— Cloud, have you ever experienced the feeling of being out of place? As if you don't belong in your own world
Cloud was surprised by the intimacy of the question, but answered honestly.
— Sometimes Actually, I've always felt like I don't quite fit into my role as a SOLDIER. I don't know if it's because I'm too human or if I'm just not suited for this job.
Sephiroth turned his head to look directly at Cloud, and Cloud noticed a mix of curiosity and understanding in the soldier's eyes.
— I've experienced those kinds of feelings too, —Sephiroth confessed— . Sometimes I feel like I'm above this world, that I don't belong in it. However, my duty leads me to fulfill a certain role within this organization. It's not always easy, but I have to accept it.
The sincerity in the general's voice surprised Cloud even more. He had never seen him speak like that, revealing personal aspects. This brought them closer together, and the young SOLDIER realized that perhaps there was something more behind that cold and controlling facade.
As they reached the edge of the scrapyard in Sector 5, the atmosphere already revealed the unfavorable and dangerous conditions that prevailed there. The sounds of screeching, popping, and screaming coming from the mass of machinery remains and trash combined into a hostile symphony that struck at the nerves.
As they made their way through the scrapyard, Sephiroth and Cloud continued their conversation. The general's honest confidence seemed to have opened a small breach in the wall surrounding his personality, and the young SOLDIER seized the moment.
— I know how difficult it can be to adjust to a certain role when it's not the one we want.
But even with that mutual recognition, the harsh atmosphere and inevitable tension of their mission soon took them away from the intimate subject. Crossing a precarious bridge over the polluted stream, Cloud pointed to the tunnel that stretched into the distance. A Shinra subway train had just emerged from it, emitting a cloud of dirty, noisy smoke that reverberated in the cavernous atmosphere.
— That must be the station that connects to the slum — Cloud indicated, looking at the boarding platform next to the platform.
Sephiroth nodded and walked to the edge, taking in the mess and misery that stretched beyond the platform.
— Yes. This is where our investigation begins.
They approached the station and a street vendor caught their attention with insistent voices. He was selling canned food and chilled drinks from his small cart, probably one of the few economic resources for the poor residents of Sector 5. Cloud looked apprehensively around, at the filth that reigned in this marginal end of Midgar.
Meanwhile, Sephiroth seemed fascinated by the different noises and smells that surrounded the station, like a scientist examining a strange sample. He approached a post where there was a map of the slums of Sector 5, marking the intersection of several important streets. The general studied the map carefully, moving his finger over the marks and lines. Suddenly, his thumb stopped on a small X drawn at the southern end of the sector, near the dividing line with Sector 6.
— This point here? —he asked Cloud, who came closer to get a better look—. According to our reports, this corresponds to the exact location where the most numerous deaths occurred during our last cleanup operation.
Cloud looked at the position on the map and remembered the news of the tragedy.
— That's right, it's near Aerith's house. I heard that there were several deaths there during the operation.
Sephiroth was silent for a few moments, his gaze lost in the map as if he saw something beyond the drawn lines. Then, he turned to Cloud with a determined gesture.
— We're going to investigate that particular place. There we may find key clues to understand what went wrong.
Without giving Cloud time to respond, Sephiroth began to walk quickly towards the station's exit. The young SOLDIER followed him, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern. The general had never given him direct orders, but his authority and conviction were undeniable.
As they emerged from the shelter of the station, they were faced with the brutal reality of the slum. The twisting alleys of the neighborhood were filled with hungry and helpless people surviving in an environment of ruins and filth. Any sign of normality or well-being seemed alien in this place. Sephiroth confidently moved through the crowd, passing through second-hand shops offering broken and used items at absurd prices. His tall steps and imposing bearing did not seem to affect the people, who barely glanced at him.
Meanwhile, Cloud was having trouble keeping up, distracted by the chaotic scene around him. The misery and helplessness of these human beings moved him to the core. Sephiroth noticed the young SOLDIER stumble a little with each step, his attention divided between following him and processing the depressing images of the slum. With momentary surprise, the general abruptly stopped in the middle of the street, making Cloud pause. Sephiroth reached out and wrapped the young SOLDIER in a firm hug, which surprised Cloud greatly. The blond-haired youth stood still for a moment, surprised by the unexpected display of closeness, and then returned the hug somewhat awkwardly. Sephiroth held him close to his body, with surprising warmth.
— It will be okay, Cloud —the general murmured in his ear—.
His words echoed in Cloud's ear like a plea for reassurance at a time when even the young SOLDIER didn't know if there was any hope to be found there. During that brief interval of intimacy, Cloud experienced a torrent of sensations: the reassuring stability that Sephiroth radiated, his incomparable strength amidst the chaos; the compassion latent behind those cold eyes.
A short while later, the tall, silver-haired man released him, though his fingers lingered for a moment on Cloud's uniform before pulling away. The tension again asserted itself in the general's calm, haughty gesture.
Sephiroth pulled away, his gaze regaining its distant glow and his posture straightening again, as if nothing had happened. For Cloud, however, the impression of the hug and the security it had conveyed was still fresh.
— Come on, we have work to do —Sephiroth said, moving purposefully back along the street—.
Cloud followed, his feet picking up the pace and his mind beginning to focus on the task at hand. The earlier conversation and the general's strange display of solidarity still hung in the air, but the blond-haired youth chose not to dwell on it, for now.
After a long, stormy walk through the slum, they reached a relatively less run-down area, with wider streets. Just before reaching the main street that marked the border with Sector 6, Sephiroth stopped in front of a dilapidated building, surrounded by a wide empty space.
— This is the place —he said, his tone calm and analytical—. This is where some of the deaths during the operation occurred.
Cloud looked around and saw a flattened area on the ground, where the legs and arms of some bodies stuck out of the undergrowth. The general approached one of the bodies, his cat-like eyes of a green lighter than emerald carefully analyzing the position and condition of the decrepit corpses.
— It seems they died of violent causes —he commented—. Internal bleeding, fractures, and injuries from impacts.
Cloud joined him, observing the remains. It was hard to believe this had happened during an official Shinra cleanup operation.
— Do you think our people could have caused this by mistake? —Cloud asked, doubting his team could be so reckless—.
Sephiroth shook his head slowly, firmly denying the idea of an accident.
— No, Shinra does not make mistakes. When we want to eliminate someone or something, we do it effectively.
He moved even closer to the corpses, inspecting the scattered clothes and personal items. Meanwhile, Cloud continued to look at the remains, analyzing details that had so far gone unnoticed. It was then that he noticed a dark red blood stain on the ground, near a darker, thicker puddle in the direction of Aerith's garden, which was a few meters away. The connection between the death scene and Aerith's garden became clear to the young SOLDIER at that moment. The blood spread across the ground, marking a path to the small green oasis among the degradation of the slum.
With a knot in his stomach, Cloud headed towards the source of the blood, his mind trying to fit together the pieces of the available information. What connection could there be between Aerith and this horrible discovery? He stopped at the edge of the garden, looking down at the flowers.
— Sephiroth, I think we found the connection —he said, his voice barely audible—. The blood leads here, to Aerith's garden.
Sephiroth approached Cloud and together they examined the entrance to the garden. The general paused for a moment, his thoughts also trying to make sense of the data he had gathered. Aerith's possible involvement in this tragic event intrigued him.
— You're right —Sephiroth finally agreed—. This is the route the blood followed, and Aerith's garden is in the vicinity. If Shinra is involved in something suspicious, that woman is likely at the center of it all.
Meanwhile, the energy of the garden seemed to vibrate in the air, inviting further exploration of this oasis of peace in the heart of urban misery.
Aerith appeared, opening the door to her house, surprised to see Cloud and Sephiroth. Her braided, light brown hair, adorned with a pink ribbon, moved gently in the wind, while her emerald green eyes shone with a natural luminosity. Although the blond-haired young man had never expressed romantic interest in her, the Cetra had always held an unconscious attraction towards the young SOLDIER. That emotional weakness made her vulnerable at a time when reality was grim.
—Hello, Cloud! —she greeted with her characteristic smile—. What brings you here?
Her voice was melodious and optimistic, but Cloud could detect a note of anxiety behind her joy. He felt uncomfortable finding Aerith there, and his response was polite but evasive.
—Hello, Aerith. Sephiroth and I are investigating some events in the neighborhood. We did not want to disturb you.
He looked away, nervous, realizing how his presence affected the woman who had always shown sympathy towards him, despite their emotional distance.
Aerith observed Sephiroth with curiosity, aware of his reputation as a general of SOLDIERs, and noted his imposing and serious presence.
—Oh! Investigations, huh? Well, if I can help you with something... —she said, trying to keep the conversation light—. This area is quiet in general.
Sephiroth remained silent, observing the surroundings carefully while the woman spoke. Cloud noticed her gesture and decided to speak up, wanting to change the direction of the conversation.
— Don't worry, Aerith, we're fine. We just want to know more about what happened here.
The weight of the discovery was felt, but Cloud needed to find a way to share it with the friendly Cetra without arousing suspicion. Aerith noticed the seriousness on the young blond's face, and his optimism was shadowed by uneasiness.
— Hmm! Well, I don't know of anything suspicious. As I mentioned, this area is quiet...
Without letting Aerith finish her answer, Sephiroth interrupted, his voice calm but firm.
— There were deaths here, Aerith. Blood on the ground and corpses near your home. We are investigating because it is not clear who or what could be responsible.
The general spoke precisely, stating the facts without drama, but the gravity of his statement was immutable. Aerith paled, her smile faded and her eyes widened. Meanwhile, Sephiroth could not help but notice the way the Cetra was staring at Cloud, with a special sparkle in her emerald green eyes that he had not noticed before. A feeling of annoyance, inexplicable at first glance, began to grow within the general.
Sephiroth did not understand why the sight of Aerith looking at Cloud with that special sparkle in her eyes made him so uncomfortable. He was Sephiroth, the legendary SOLDIER, the most powerful and hero. Why should he feel jealous of a mere human's interest in another man? But that feeling persisted, a mixture of envy and frustration that shook him inside. He was pulled from his thoughts by the woman's response, who spoke in a weak but firm voice.
— Deaths near my home? Blood? Oh, no... This is terrible. But I have no idea who the culprit could be. Could it be related to my Cetra status?
Sephiroth focused back on the investigation, trying to ignore the knot in his stomach. It could be that he was simply reacting to the shock of the deaths and it had nothing to do with the affection he felt for Cloud, which he still did not recognize as such.
— It's probably related, Aerith —he said in his neutral tone—. Shinra has been hunting your people because of certain abilities you possess.
As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Cloud, who remained nervous and evasive. Sephiroth did not understand why, but he felt compelled to protect the young SOLDIER from the intense gazes of that woman.
— Let's investigate further —Sephiroth continued, gesturing towards the remains—.
Together, Cloud and Sephiroth began to inspect the remains of the fallen civilians, examining the clothing and signs of battle that remained. The scene was grim and sad, but both immersed themselves in the task with a calm determination.
Meanwhile, Aerith watched from the side, her gaze becoming more and more insistent towards Cloud. He, however, remained focused on the investigation, ignoring the Cetra's attempts to capture his attention.
— Cloud, is something wrong? —Aerith asked, approaching with a worried expression—. You're very quiet today.
Cloud shrugged, avoiding her gaze.
— All right, Aerith.
Sephiroth noticed Aerith's insistence on bothering Cloud and decided to intervene, his calm but firm voice echoing in the air.
— Aerith, we need to focus on the investigation. Please let us work.
The Cetra took a step back, her smile temporarily fading under the slight irritation.
— Oh, excuse me.
After making sure the woman moved away, Sephiroth returned to the young SOLDIER's side, his feline eyes scanning the battle scene.
As they worked, the general couldn't help but reflect on the feelings Cloud provoked in him. That constant resistance to his advances, combined with the growing dependence he felt, made him feel... like a thorn on the arrow that slowly stuck inside him. A strange, painful and at the same time attractive sensation. Sephiroth had never experienced anything like it before. It was as if the young blond had shot an arrow into his heart, a sharp point that sank deep, challenging his will to control. That arrow represented the power Cloud had over him, an implicit dominance that he could not deny. And as the investigation progressed, the feeling grew, to the point that the general began to lose track of who was investigating whom.
After a meticulous inspection, Sephiroth and Cloud finished their analysis of the remains. Among the belongings found, there was a personal journal that belonged to one of the deceased. Carefully, the silver-haired man opened it and began to read.
— Cloud, look at this —he said, showing him a specific page—. This man talks about a mysterious figure who has been helping the inhabitants of Sector 5, especially the poorest and most marginalized. Some have even seen her as a kind of guardian angel.
Cloud read the passage and was surprised to realize that the text referred to Aerith.
— Clearly —Cloud said— it is about Aerith.
Sephiroth put the diary away with a thoughtful gesture.
— If your theory is correct, Aerith would be the person described as a mysterious figure who helps the community. But, according to this, it seems that our attempt to "cleanse" Sector 5 failed miserably, and it was her presence that caused this adverse result. —Sephiroth interlaced his fingers, thoughtful. — We cannot allow an individual like Aerith to continue hindering our plans. Perhaps we should take drastic measures against her, since it is clear that she is no friend of Shinra or of the order that we promote.
After a pause, Sephiroth stood up, his imposing figure dominating the scene.
— We will inform Angeal about our findings. It is time for a decision to be made on what to do regarding Aerith and Sector 5.
Cloud nodded, though he did not entirely share the general's stance. He knew that Aerith was innocent and that Shinra was the true culprit behind the tragedy.
— We should investigate further before making decisions —he suggested, trying to be cautious—. There might be more things we don't know yet.
Sephiroth turned his head to Cloud, his piercing gaze revealing unyielding determination.
— We have already gathered enough information, Cloud. We do not have time for further investigations.
Meanwhile, Aerith discreetly approached, listening intently to the conversation. Her green eyes shone with a mix of concern and determination typical of someone who knew too much about the real situation in Sector 5.
— And what do you propose to do with me, Sephiroth? —he asked, his voice soft but full of tension—. Do you think I am a danger to you and your plans?
Sephiroth looked at the woman with a nasty look.
— You are the threat, Cetra. Your presence here is a challenge to our authority.
Cloud placed a hand on Sephiroth's arm, trying to moderate his anger.
— Sephiroth, let's talk to Angeal first. We need to coordinate our actions.
With an enigmatic expression, Sephiroth shifted his gaze to Cloud, his eyes tearing at the space between them. Feeling his hand, the general experienced a chill that ran from the tips of his fingers to the depths of his soul. It was an unfamiliar sensation, terrifying in its intensity, but also irresistible. He felt a rush of desire wash over him, but he held back.
— Okay —he agreed, his voice a little softer than before—. Let's go talk to Angeal.
Without saying another word, Sephiroth turned and headed toward the garden exit. Cloud followed him, his heart racing that he could barely explain.
As Sephiroth and Cloud left, Aerith was left alone in the garden, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched as the young blond walked alongside the general, not a single glance back to say goodbye to her. The Cetra loved him, with all her soul, but now, she saw that Cloud had found another target...
The woman felt a bitter sadness flood over her, a feeling of irreversible loss. With her head down, she slowly made her way towards her home.
Sephiroth and Cloud made their way through the slums of Sector 5 while they immersed themselves in their lonely thoughts. The general could not get out of his mind the impression that the young SOLDIER had had on him, like a force that had driven him mad with desire. That feeling of absolute control over him was new and confusing.
On the other hand, Cloud felt overwhelmed by his own emotions, especially his growing attraction to Sephiroth, despite all the doubts and fears it generated inside him. What was wrong with him? He had never felt that way before.
Both tried to keep up appearances, walking upright and silently towards Shinra where Angeal Hewley was waiting.