[Housemates, you might just notice that Zack has seemingly disappeared from the house at sometime close to sundown. Don't bother going to look; he's left a note on the fridge for you all
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[Seph's whipcrack tone is familiar, and it still makes him want to drop into a salute right away, but at the moment he's too busy trying to catch his breath to do much more than what he's been ordered.
Though..."what the hell" certainly fits. He has no idea.]
[Screaming and yelling into the PHS probably won't do a lot of good, therefore Sephiroth doesn't bother. But he does to go fetch his coat and his sword, countenance rock-hard and scowling.
The slam of the door, then he barks stern orders into the Dreamberry again.]
Get yourself secure and do not move, you hear me? I'll be there shortly.
[And by "shortly", he means "within about five minutes or so".]
[If a flinch could be audible, Zack's would have just given him away to the creatures that gave chase. The only thought that comes to mind at this moment is "oh, shit. He's going to kill me.", and that's enough reason for Zack to follow orders and get the hell to cover. Might as well make it as painless as he can.]
Yes sir. I'll be here.
[And in about five minutes or so, Sephiroth is going to find Zack still hidden behind rubble that's serving as cover, secure as he's going to get what with the blood trail he kind of left in his wake, while he sloppily ties a bandage around his wounded arm. He's never been the best at field treating his own wounds, that's for sure.]
[In actuality, it took Sephiroth about ten minutes, mostly because he had to stop and deliver a bit of righteous irritation and profound annoyance to a rather unintelligent creature which just happened to be stalking the General's best friend.
Not far from Zack's hiding place, a bright flash of blue-white light illuminated the street, followed by a hard grunt and a high-pitched squeal of something large dying. Blood sprayed and there came a wet squishy flopping sound as the creature seemingly broke apart, pieces toppling to the pavement.
Sephiroth snarled to himself, absently stripping scarlet from the Masamune's gleaming blade, it humming still, thirsty for more. But there's no time to linger in this hellish environment.]
[Zack didn't need to look up from where he crouched to know that the General was pissed. He was lunchmeat even with the monsters dead, but Zack knew that hiding wouldn't help matters, so he stood up with his sword in one hand and the other reaching back to palm the back of his neck in nervousness as he stepped closer, noting the monster vanishing into ash from the corner of his eye.]
Can we get out of here before you start yelling? I really don't want more of those things showing to turn us into dinner.
[That and he needs to sit soon; he's a shade too pale for his normal Gongagan tan, even with his arm no longer bleeding profusely.]
[Far be it from Sephiroth to berate a subordinate in a combat zone. No, that was best saved for later. Thus, he allowed himself a moment of relief to see the pup alive and hearty, for the most part, before unceremoniously slinging Zack's left arm over his right shoulder and supporting his woozy friend.]
[Zack actually didn't need much support, but that wasn't to say he didn't appreciate it, leaning some of his weight against his friend as they made their way back to the safety of home, legs still just a little shaky from that scare and the subsequent chase.]
Don't have to tell me twice. I'm never coming back here again.
[Not in the nighttime hours, anyway. He'd come in daylight, if at all.]
[Perhaps a block still within the Industrial District, Sephiroth suddenly shoved Zack aside and whirled, slashing the Masamune in one smooth motion. The creature stalking the two SOLDIERs screamed in searing pain, but Sephiroth was relentless.
He struck again and again, implacable death driving on the eagerly humming blade. Fury overrode rationality and after the flurry of blindingly blue-white light faded, only twitching pieces of the formerly horrifying beast remained.
Without a word, Sephiroth returned and quite gently retrieved his injured friend, moving on towards safety and home.]
[To his credit, Zack was used to Sephiroth quickly moving to dispatch foes, so though he wasn't able to keep his footing due to the shove, he didn't land flat on his back in surprise. He just watched from where he knelt on the ground, trying to shove what fear was left in him back down to where it had come from as the General dispatched the creature that had stalked them to the exit, leaving almost nothing to turn into ash as they left it behind, Zack leaning just a little more on his friend as they got closer and closer to home again.
That just made one thing clear to the pup: he'd have never made it this far without help. That was almost a scary thought, really.]
[Praise be to Shiva they arrived home without incident, and without any flurry of commotion announcing their arrival. Soldier barked a few times, but a sharp word from his master had the pup scurrying beneath the living room couch as Sephiroth helped Zack into the kitchen and deposited him in one of the chairs at the table.
All business, the General retreated to his quarters and returned with a small round bauble, it gently glowing with a soft pearly light. Placing one hand on Zack's forearm, Sephiroth closed his eyes and called forth the healing magic, having to struggle with it as there was no Lifestream here; the materia pulled its force from the caster's own body.
When he'd done all he could, even with a mastered Cure, Sephiroth tucked it away in a pocket and stood, retreating a few steps and crossed his arms. He didn't say anything; he didn't have to.]
[It wasn't the first time that Zack was grateful for the quiet, even as Sephiroth left him in the kitchen but quickly returned to heal the injury. The pup held his tongue, knowing that stopping the General now would be nearly impossible and it would be just better to let him do this without protesting it at all. When he was finished, the wounds were nearly completely healed and were only faint marks against Zack's skin, leaving only a lingering soreness when he moved that arm.
He looked up to thank the other man for both the rescue and the healing, but he knew that look too well to say a word upon seeing it. He just looked away, holding his tongue further. Sephiroth didn't have to say a word, and it wasn't long before Zack sighed through his teeth, head in his hands as he leaned his elbows on the table. What a night...]
I get it, okay? I was stupid and I shouldn't have gone out there. You don't have to...you know.
[Zack waved his hand in Sephiroth's general direction to make his point, but still didn't raise his eyes from the table
( ... )
[Sephiroth held his silence for a bit more, his scowl deepening by the moment. But he couldn't unload his anger and fear on this one, this one he loved more than any breathing being on any planet in the cosmos.
Finally, he heaved a great sigh, which seemed to come from the very heels of his boots, and ran a hand through streaked silver, dropping down in the chair beside Zack.]
I know I don't, Zack Fair. [Sephiroth rested his hands together on the table, spearing his friend with a hard eye.] But if you pull a stunt like that again, Shiva help me...
[That hard eye was one that Zack knew, and while it caused him to wince a bit, it wasn't a cause for the damned fear to resurface. It was just Sephiroth showing his own concern in a way that would hopefully prevent a repeat incident. And this time...this time it would do just that, among other things.]
Shiva's not gonna have to, man. I do something that stupid again, I'll help you knock that from my head.
[Not that such a thing would be needed; it was probably obvious to the General that his best friend was still shaken by more than just the healed wounds on his arm, and if there was one thing that could teach the puppy to stay away from something, it was bone deep terror.]
[And he definitely meant it. If he ever lost Zack...the thought was nearly enough to send him into a panic attack. Which...brought up another thought.]
...regarding...what I mentioned earlier...[No need to mention specifically the "what"] ...my dreams are starting up again.
[That tone makes Zack look up, eyes flooding with concern as he looks to his best friend. Dreams are the problem? No...that can't be right. Not if they're just normal dreams. But...that does leave one issue. If dreams can be broadcast, who's to say what else could happen? And Seph's seen a lot of crazy crap in his days.]
I'm guessing they're not good dreams, then. Not if you're...having trouble telling me.
[Because what do they have if not total trust and faith in one another? Not much, as far as Zack is concerned.]
What the hell--
--Zack Fair! Answer me, SOLDIER!!
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Though..."what the hell" certainly fits. He has no idea.]
I'm okay!
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The slam of the door, then he barks stern orders into the Dreamberry again.]
Get yourself secure and do not move, you hear me? I'll be there shortly.
[And by "shortly", he means "within about five minutes or so".]
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Yes sir. I'll be here.
[And in about five minutes or so, Sephiroth is going to find Zack still hidden behind rubble that's serving as cover, secure as he's going to get what with the blood trail he kind of left in his wake, while he sloppily ties a bandage around his wounded arm. He's never been the best at field treating his own wounds, that's for sure.]
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Not far from Zack's hiding place, a bright flash of blue-white light illuminated the street, followed by a hard grunt and a high-pitched squeal of something large dying. Blood sprayed and there came a wet squishy flopping sound as the creature seemingly broke apart, pieces toppling to the pavement.
Sephiroth snarled to himself, absently stripping scarlet from the Masamune's gleaming blade, it humming still, thirsty for more. But there's no time to linger in this hellish environment.]
--Zack!!
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Can we get out of here before you start yelling? I really don't want more of those things showing to turn us into dinner.
[That and he needs to sit soon; he's a shade too pale for his normal Gongagan tan, even with his arm no longer bleeding profusely.]
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I've got you. Let's get out of here.
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Don't have to tell me twice. I'm never coming back here again.
[Not in the nighttime hours, anyway. He'd come in daylight, if at all.]
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He struck again and again, implacable death driving on the eagerly humming blade. Fury overrode rationality and after the flurry of blindingly blue-white light faded, only twitching pieces of the formerly horrifying beast remained.
Without a word, Sephiroth returned and quite gently retrieved his injured friend, moving on towards safety and home.]
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That just made one thing clear to the pup: he'd have never made it this far without help. That was almost a scary thought, really.]
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All business, the General retreated to his quarters and returned with a small round bauble, it gently glowing with a soft pearly light. Placing one hand on Zack's forearm, Sephiroth closed his eyes and called forth the healing magic, having to struggle with it as there was no Lifestream here; the materia pulled its force from the caster's own body.
When he'd done all he could, even with a mastered Cure, Sephiroth tucked it away in a pocket and stood, retreating a few steps and crossed his arms. He didn't say anything; he didn't have to.]
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He looked up to thank the other man for both the rescue and the healing, but he knew that look too well to say a word upon seeing it. He just looked away, holding his tongue further. Sephiroth didn't have to say a word, and it wasn't long before Zack sighed through his teeth, head in his hands as he leaned his elbows on the table. What a night...]
I get it, okay? I was stupid and I shouldn't have gone out there. You don't have to...you know.
[Zack waved his hand in Sephiroth's general direction to make his point, but still didn't raise his eyes from the table ( ... )
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Finally, he heaved a great sigh, which seemed to come from the very heels of his boots, and ran a hand through streaked silver, dropping down in the chair beside Zack.]
I know I don't, Zack Fair. [Sephiroth rested his hands together on the table, spearing his friend with a hard eye.] But if you pull a stunt like that again, Shiva help me...
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Shiva's not gonna have to, man. I do something that stupid again, I'll help you knock that from my head.
[Not that such a thing would be needed; it was probably obvious to the General that his best friend was still shaken by more than just the healed wounds on his arm, and if there was one thing that could teach the puppy to stay away from something, it was bone deep terror.]
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[And he definitely meant it. If he ever lost Zack...the thought was nearly enough to send him into a panic attack. Which...brought up another thought.]
...regarding...what I mentioned earlier...[No need to mention specifically the "what"] ...my dreams are starting up again.
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I'm guessing they're not good dreams, then. Not if you're...having trouble telling me.
[Because what do they have if not total trust and faith in one another? Not much, as far as Zack is concerned.]
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