[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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[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. He couldn't, really. Not without the images he'd seen again for the first time in months reappearing behind his eyes. He'd never wanted to see that again.]
[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.]
[For a moment, Zack was silent. What could he say to all that to chase the demons away? Dreams, even before they got here, had always had ways of getting under their skin. Nothing but coffee, talks that lasted to the wee hours of the morning, and sleeping pills could help with those, but here...well, all Zack could do was reach over, giving Sephiroth's shoulder a firm squeeze to reassure the General that he was here and wasn't going to leave.]
Just cause it feels real doesn't mean it is, Seph. You know we're safe here, and that means you too. No fire, no ice, no pain.
[Not if Zack had anything to say about it. Sephiroth would move all hells and the earth itself for his friend, but that went both ways. There was absolutely nothing Zack wouldn't do for his best friend.]
[Sephiroth didn't answer right away, merely rested his head on his hand and stared unseeing at the table. The reassuring touch nearly made him jump, so unexpected was it. But this was Zack, should he not anticipate such tender concern?
The General sighed, shaking his head a bit. It was different here. Dreams...had the potential to become deadly; Sephiroth knew that first hand. And he didn't want any of those he cared for exposed to that danger.]
Zack...I want your word on something.
[He paused, searching for a way to voice his request which wouldn't have the pup rearing back and digging his heels in mulishly.]
Promise me...that if anything...happens...to me--
[Shiva damn this!]
--that you'll do what's necessary. Regardless of the consequences. To keep them safe. [He looked up at his best friend and anchor to sanity, gaze hellishly intent.]
[While only surprise showed on Zack's face, inside he was rearing back and digging his heels in. If something happened to Seph...no. He couldn't go there. If something happened to Sephiroth that he couldn't control, that would mean that everything that made the General the man Zack called his best friend was gone. It would mean a repeat of Nibelheim and Zack couldn't face that. Not now.]
Seph...I...you can't ask me to...I just can't...
[Do what's necessary. If that's to kill his best friend? There's no way he could do that. Hadn't that been what he'd tried to do before he got to this place? This dream that was more like a nightmare even if it gave them a second chance? He'd been failing then and he'd fail again here. There was just no way he could take Sephiroth down. His heart wouldn't let him.
But it also wouldn't let his best friend suffer if he somehow came back to himself and found he'd hurt or killed all those he cared for. Zack could never put anyone through that, and especially not this man. Not if he could do something to make it easier. So he dipped his head, staring at the floor before he looked back up, meeting those eyes even though he wanted to never have to do this.]
...You have my word, General.
[Now his tone changed, determined as all get out and not taking no for an answer.]
But I want you to promise me it won't come to that. Whatever happens, I want you to promise you'll fight it till you can't anymore.
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. He couldn't, really. Not without the images he'd seen again for the first time in months reappearing behind his eyes. He'd never wanted to see that again.]
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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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...flashes, images. Of--
[Shiva, he didn't want to revisit that again.]
--fire and ice, burning, freezing. Pain, horror. Stench of the dead.
[Sephiroth sighed, propping his head on the heel of one hand.]
But it doesn't feel like a dream this time. It feels...real, somehow.
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Just cause it feels real doesn't mean it is, Seph. You know we're safe here, and that means you too. No fire, no ice, no pain.
[Not if Zack had anything to say about it. Sephiroth would move all hells and the earth itself for his friend, but that went both ways. There was absolutely nothing Zack wouldn't do for his best friend.]
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The General sighed, shaking his head a bit. It was different here. Dreams...had the potential to become deadly; Sephiroth knew that first hand. And he didn't want any of those he cared for exposed to that danger.]
Zack...I want your word on something.
[He paused, searching for a way to voice his request which wouldn't have the pup rearing back and digging his heels in mulishly.]
Promise me...that if anything...happens...to me--
[Shiva damn this!]
--that you'll do what's necessary. Regardless of the consequences. To keep them safe. [He looked up at his best friend and anchor to sanity, gaze hellishly intent.]
Swear it to me.
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Seph...I...you can't ask me to...I just can't...
[Do what's necessary. If that's to kill his best friend? There's no way he could do that. Hadn't that been what he'd tried to do before he got to this place? This dream that was more like a nightmare even if it gave them a second chance? He'd been failing then and he'd fail again here. There was just no way he could take Sephiroth down. His heart wouldn't let him.
But it also wouldn't let his best friend suffer if he somehow came back to himself and found he'd hurt or killed all those he cared for. Zack could never put anyone through that, and especially not this man. Not if he could do something to make it easier. So he dipped his head, staring at the floor before he looked back up, meeting those eyes even though he wanted to never have to do this.]
...You have my word, General.
[Now his tone changed, determined as all get out and not taking no for an answer.]
But I want you to promise me it won't come to that. Whatever happens, I want you to promise you'll fight it till you can't anymore.
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