For Whom the Bell Tolls - Don't Tread On Me
Title: For Whom the Bell Tolls - Don't Tread On Me
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters/pairings: CidxVincent, SephirothxCloud, ensemble
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Cid's in for a lot more than he expects when he finds a man sleeping in the Waterways below Hollow Bastion.
Warnings: slash, language
Notes: Old writing, from way back in the day, in it's mostly original format (very minor corrections may have been made) A self challenge, to write Vincent Valentine into Kingdom Hearts. Written well before the second game. Song-fic-ish, with only Metallica songs, but hearing the songs are not necessary for reading.
o o o
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail
o o o
As soon as the door shut behind them, they embraced, lips tangling fiercely as they tried to convey their feelings without words. Want and worry and fear and desire and pure simple need poured from one to the other as frantic hands tugged at each other's clothing. Their lovemaking was almost rushed, the feeling of time running out poised over their heads like a guillotine. When they were done they clung to each other.
Cid held Vincent against his chest, stroking his raven hair with one hand as their twin ankhs fluttered between their chests. Vincent wrapped his arms around Cid's torso, feeling that the mechanic was unnaturally tense below him. "Don't be afraid, Highwind." He murmured, placing a light kiss on Cid's collarbone.
"I ain't afraid, I'm fuckin' terrified." Cid replied, hugging Vincent closer. "The gods only know what's going to happen tomorrow."
"We will go back to the castle tomorrow," Vincent said firmly. "We will kill the Heartless within, and we stop Ansem's madness."
"Then what?" Cid asked. "We live happily ever after?"
"Of course." Vincent replied, shifting to place a kiss on Cid's lips. "Happily ever after, together."
"I'm not so sure 'Happily ever after' exists anymore, Vince." Cid replied. Vincent opened his mouth to argue and was interrupted by screams.
o o o
Never begins it, never but once engaged
Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage
o o o
Sephiroth lay on his bed, arms tucked behind his head, so still that Cloud couldn't tell if he was sleeping or awake and thinking. The general had told Cloud to stay at the Inn for the night, rather than go back home to his mother. "I want you nearby in case we have to move quickly," Had been his explanation. Cloud had agreed, but now he was more nervous than he could ever remember being. He was worried about tomorrow, but it also stemmed from the fact that he had never seen Sephiroth sleep before. Even when he had taken them all to a nearly deserted island for a week a few summers ago, he had slept in his own cabin on the boat, rather than join them on the beach. That's when he's the most vulnerable, when he's sleeping, Cloud thought. He doesn't like showing that to others. And hard on the heels of that thought came another: He trusts me enough to let me see him sleep. A slight blush crept up his cheeks at the thought.
"You need your rest, Cloud." Sephiroth said quietly, not moving except for his lips and making Cloud jump a foot. "We'll have hard times ahead."
Cloud's lips quirked. "I'm not sure I can yet." He admitted. "It's still early and I usually don't fall asleep for another couple hours."
Sephiroth's eyes opened, looking across the space between their beds at his student. "You should learn to get your rest whenever you can take it." He said.
Cloud felt his cheeks heat again at the gentle criticism. "I-I've never had a reason to learn." He said.
Sephiroth sighed and sat up, draping his arms around his knees. His boots and heavy coat had been draped over a chair, and he was shirtless except for a pair of suspenders that crossed on the front of his chest. His hair was a rich tumble of silver in the gloom and Cloud's heart burst into an erratic rhythm at the sight of his teacher looking so- so human and so beautiful it hurt to look at him, but hurt more to look away. Sephiroth stared forward into the shadows of the room, a slight quirk on his lips. "I understand what you mean." He said finally. "Not tired enough to sleep, though you know you must." He sighed. "Though you know lives may depend on how tired you are the next day." He finished quietly.
Cloud watched as Sephiroth stood, his hair rippling like water as he moved. He padded across the floor on silent feet to the window that looked out over the street below. The general hugged his elbows against his chest as he stared out the window to the people below, still going about their lives. Cloud, still sitting on his bed, felt his heart crack. Sephiroth seemed, for once, the young man he was, instead of the invincible general everyone saw him as. Steeling himself, Cloud slid from his bed and padded across the room to his teacher. Sephiroth turned towards him, a frown on his brow, as he approached. Swallowing past the nervous lump in his throat, his heart going a million miles a second, Cloud stood on his toes, wrapped his arms around Sephiroth's shoulders and pulled him into a clumsy, shy kiss.
(Wha?!)
Please I don't care if we die if I never see my mom again if I never see YOU again just let me
(Cloud?)
have this to remember please just let me have you to remember let me have just a moment to remember that you really are human-
(Cloud. . . . . .)
He broke the kiss as abruptly as he had started it, letting go of Sephiroth's shoulders and staring at the floor, his face pure scarlet. His heart thundered as he wondered what his teacher's reaction was going to be. He managed to look up, biting his lip, and saw no anger but deep thought in Sephiroth's emerald eyes. His mind suddenly threw out a bit of memory from earlier in the day: Sephiroth had heard his thoughts and had come to help him. Had he heard them again?
(Perhaps I did)
o o o
Said don't tread on me
o o o
Cloud jumped as Sephiroth's voice whispered through his head. His mouth fell open a bit as he stared up at his teacher in shock. Sephiroth's eyes were three parts thoughtful, one part amused, and one part some emotion Cloud couldn't identify. "I'm flattered," The general said softly, "But I think your kiss needs a bit more practice." Cloud's eyes went wide as strong fingers gripped his chin, tipping his head back slightly. Sephiroth's hair fell around their faces as the general leaned forward and brought their lips together a second time. His other hand rested lightly on Cloud's waist, pulling the boy closer. Cloud gripped at Sephiroth's shoulders as his head spun from the sensation of being so close to the one being he loved more than anything else-
Love?
(There is nothing wrong with love, for love shall protect your heart from anything)
Fine if that's the case then I love you love you until the end of time itself please don't leave me behind-
(I won't)
The kiss broke gently and Cloud gasped softly, everything spinning. "... love you." He breathed unconsciously; his fingers trembling as he hesitantly stroked a lock of Sephiroth's hair like he'd wanted to for months. Sephiroth parted his lips to say something, but the sounds of screams from out the window shattered the moment.
o o o
So be it, threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it, settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore...
o o o
Cid had never known exactly how fast Vincent could move in a hurry. One moment they had been lying there and speaking of happily ever after, the next a scream had sounded from outside and his arms were empty, Vincent a rapidly dressing blur at the foot of the bed. Before Cid had time to move from the bed Vincent was already gone, strapping his holster to his waist and thigh. Another scream rent the air and Cid rolled from the bed, landing on his feet and began searching for his clothes. He dressed quickly and left the room, nearly slamming into Cloud as the boy left his room. They didn't speak, only summoned their weapons and ran down the stairs.
Apparently Sephiroth had inherited Vincent's speed for the two blonds found father and son standing beside each other just outside the Inn door, Nanaki and Reeve close by, all of them looking up. Cid looked up and nearly choked. Huge dark shapes filled the sky, streaming from the castle. Once over the city they plunged down, revealing themselves as large red-purple creatures that bore some resemblance to the gargoyles that decorated some buildings. The sigul of Hollow Bastion could clearly be seen on their stomachs as they dove among the streets, bowling people over with their hind legs, tattered-looking wings flapping.
"Ansem." Sephiroth hissed. He walked down the street, unmindful of the chaos around him, to a stable a few buildings down. He lashed out with one foot and kicked the door open, then entered. The others ran after him in time to see him strapping a saddle to a Chocobo's back. He swung up onto the bird and kicked it forward, nearly bowling them all over as he left the stable at a madman's pace. Masamune whirled in the air as he rode, striking down any Heartless within it's reach. He headed for the castle.
"Shit." Cid muttered. "Everyone on a bird." They didn't need to be told twice and hurried to grab Chocobo tack. Soon they were saddled up and riding out, Reeve riding double behind Nanaki.
o o o
Don't tread on me
o o o
Cid decided to take Sephiroth's example and lashed out with his spear at every Heartless he could while urging his mount faster. Vincent emptied his gun as fast as he could and refilled it, his hands working in blurs. Cloud was about to follow example when a familiar cry caught his attention. Ahead he saw Squall surrounded by a writhing mass of black shapes, his gunblade gleaming as he kept them at bay. "Squall!" Cloud shouted, goading his Chocobo straight for the younger boy. He leaned to the side, holding out his hand and Squall grabbed his wrist, swinging up behind him.
"What the hell is going on?" Squall yelled, wrapping one arm around Cloud's waist and clinging to his Gunblade with the other.
"Ansem's lost it and released these things." Cloud replied grimly. "We're going to stop him." He looked back over his shoulder. "You in?"
"Those things took my parents," Squall said flatly. "And-and your mom. I tried to stop them but there were too many. I-I'm sorry I couldn't help." He fell silent a moment. "Yeah, I'm in. I want a piece of these things."
Cloud felt his heart wrench at the knowledge of his mother being taken. Never got to tell her goodbye, he thought grimly. I love you mom. I'll see you again soon.
o o o
Love it or leave it, she with the deadly bite
Quick is the blue tongue, forked as a lightning strike
o o o
Sephiroth dismounted before the castle and ran inside, looking around. These lower levels were the servant’s quarters and Chocobo stables, but no one was around. Belatedly, he remembered sending the servants into the city for the night. He heard a whimpering and turned, finding himself face to face with the door to a storage closet. He pulled it open, Masamune at ready, then froze at the sight within.
Yuffie clung to Aerith, her arms around the older girl's waist, Aerith stroking the younger girl's hair comfortingly. They looked up in shock and fear as Sephiroth wrenched the door open. "S-s-sephiroth?" Aerith whispered, looking at him, wide-eyed. The general lowered his sword slowly and both girls piled out of the closet, wrapping their arms around his waist and burying their faces in his stomach. Sephiroth sighed, carefully sheathing Masamune at his side and laying a comforting hand on each of their backs. He looked up as Cid and Vincent ran in, followed by Cloud, Squall, Nanaki and Reeve.
Cloud stopped short on seeing Aerith and Yuffie clinging to his teacher. "What the-"
"We were looking for you guys." Aerith said, her voice quavering as she released Sephiroth's waist. "W-we thought you might be up here. But no one was here, and we heard those-those-those things coming, so we hid." She shivered. "What were they?"
"Heartless." Squall said. "Monsters that eat people's hearts." The girls stared at him, uncomprehending.
"Hurry." Sephiroth urged. "We have to stop him."
"You think he might still be in the Waterways?" Cloud asked as they took a lift into the castle proper.
"That's where we're starting." Sephiroth replied grimly. But instead of leading them towards the lift into the Waterways, he turned a corner and led them to Cid's workshop, across the wide floor and into the alcove that served as the mechanic's office. "You five," He said, looking at Aerith, Yuffie, Squall, Nanaki and Reeve, "Will stay here." His eyes narrowed as they started to protest. "No arguments." He said sharply. "You will stay here, out of the way. Understand?" They nodded glumly, filing into the alcove. Sephiroth turned abruptly and strode out, the others close behind.
Squall crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his face dark with anger at the unfairness of the situation. Yuffie and Aerith sat on Cid's desk, heads bowed. After a moment, Yuffie looked up. "Hey," She said. "Where'd the kitty-boys go?"
They looked around. Nanaki and Reeve were gone.
o o o
Shining with brightness, always on surveillance
The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance
o o o
Vincent knew they were being followed. He walked at the tail of the small group, Cid before him, Sephiroth in front, Cloud between mechanic and general. Whatever was behind them was quiet, almost deadly silent, but the Heartless within his body alerted him to the thrumming of their hearts and the pulse of their fear. He turned sharply, hand on the butt of the pistol at his hip.
Reeve and Nanaki froze, bare paw-like feet silent on the stone floor. Vincent's eyes narrowed sharply as the others turned to see what had caught his attention. "What," He said flatly. "Are you two doing here?"
"Hunting." Nanaki replied.
Sephiroth came up at Vincent's side, his eyes flaring in anger. "I told you- " He started.
"We know what you told us." Reeve interrupted. The two half-felines were probably the only beings in the world who had enough natural disdain for humans to interrupt Sephiroth while talking and angry. "We also know that Ansem's not in the Waterways." He jerked his head back, motioning towards a side hall that led to the main Lift stop in the heart of the castle. "He came up that way, heading up. Towards the receiving halls."
"How can you possibly know that?" Cid snapped.
Nanaki smiled humorlessly, tapping lightly on one side of his nose. "We are feline, human. Our senses are much more...acute than yours. We know Ansem's scent, and it is coming off the lifts in waves, very recent. He is above us, not below. Below, maybe, a trap, Heartless in wait. Above, Lord Ansem." He looked at them, eyes dark with anger and grief and old pain. "Those things took our home while we were too young to fight back." He said grimly. He raised one hand, short fingers splayed. His nails suddenly shot out, extending his fingers by an inch and a half, each one as sharp as the talons on Vincent's gauntlet. "We want revenge. And with us, you can find Ansem that much quicker."
Sephiroth glared at them, his face set in angry, hard lines. He made an abrupt motion towards the Lift Stop with one hand, giving them permission to lead the way. The feline-boys turned, running almost silent back down the hall, the humans close behind.
o o o
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling on her tail
o o o
If asked, Cid would've sworn that no one could have changed any of the lifts without his knowledge, not even Ansem. He had built every lift, replacing the spiraled central stairs with the contraptions. The lifts could be deactivated with a spoken password, and only activated by a person who knew the counter password. When they reached the lifts, they were, in fact, all deactivated. Cid quickly activated the first one again, and they took it up.
The series was a tedious one; ride a lift, run across a balcony or through a hall, ride another lift, keep moving ever upwards, ever on the lookout for Heartless, casting quick glances out over the city when it was in view. Sephiroth, barely out of childhood but already a tactical genius when they were built, had decided on the long, winding spiral around, inside and outside the castle as a defensive strategy more than anything. Anyone defending the castle would have ample opportunity to waylay an attacker or trap them on an upper level with a spoken word. Now the effectiveness of the strategy was proven as they climbed ever upwards, tense and ever waiting for a horde of Heartless to issue from the castle and sweep them away. They never came and the warriors continued onwards, Nanaki and Reeve leading the way, following Ansem's trail.
One lift crossed the front of the castle. It was much larger than any of the other lifts, and was built simply to give a large group a breath-taking view of both the castle and the city, and was probably the closest thing to a tourist ride that the castle had. No one wondered why Ansem's scent had led to this particular lift when it wasn't necessary, there was another way he could've taken that would have been faster. Maybe he wanted to see the city, or maybe he wasn't expecting pursuit. Whatever the reason, the two felines ran up to the huge lift, which was surrounded by static energy bars. Cid opened his mouth to speak the activation password, but before he could the energy of the lift seemed to reach out and grab those closest to it - Nanaki and Reeve.
The boys cried out as they were dragged into the lift and it set off across the castle, leaving the humans behind on the balcony. Cid cursed, watching it make it's journey, the others crowded around him. "Can you make it come back?" Cloud asked.
Cid shook his head. "It runs on a loop. It'll come back for us and I hope those two have the smarts to stay put until we get there."
If any of the others thought to respond, their words died when the lift stopped halfway through it's journey across the castle and black shaped materialized within it.
o o o
So be it, threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
o o o
Reeve screamed as black smoke appeared before him, condensing into a human- shape with a large hat, flowing robes and a staff. It floated a foot off the ground, it's purple-black robes marked with the royal symbol, it's eyes hidden beneath it's hat. But Reeve knew that they'd be yellow and dead- alive. Heartless eyes. He stumbled back, leaning heavily against Nanaki, and looked around wildly. Two more of the robed Heartless had appeared, slowly floating towards the two felines.
Nanaki screamed, a wild, howling noise full of grief and rage, and pounced at the nearest Heartless, four sets of claws unsheathed and gleaming. The Heartless hit him with it's staff, sending him sprawling, then aimed it at him, a ball of fire erupting from the staff to hit Nanaki square in the chest. Reeve shrieked, running to his friend's side as the three creatures converged on them.
o o o
So be it, settle the score
o o o
Cid's eyes went wide when he saw the Heartless appear on the lift. He turned, his lips forming the request, and saw that Vincent had the same idea, pistol in hand and aiming at the lift. The shot rang out, deafening in close quarters, but the energy around the lift flared, and the bullet ricocheted away. The pistol rang out several times and each time the bullet bounced away. Vincent lowered his gun with a snarl, talented hands already loading a fresh clip. The boys were on their own.
o o o
Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore...
o o o
Nanaki sat up, wincing as the movement sifted the burned skin of his chest. Reeve was at his side, tugging his arm, staring at the approaching Heartless with sheer terror. The three creatures surrounded them, reaching down to them. The two boys fought like cornered animals, biting, scratching, kicking and screaming out in terror, rage and pain as spell upon spell rained down on their bodies. Burnt, frozen and electrocuted, they could do little more than stare in horror as the Heartless closed in, and they felt little more than a tug as their hearts were pulled from them.
Their bodies disappeared. So did the Heartless.
Across the open space between the balcony and lift rang Cloud's scream of grief.
o o o
Don't tread on me
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters/pairings: CidxVincent, SephirothxCloud, ensemble
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Cid's in for a lot more than he expects when he finds a man sleeping in the Waterways below Hollow Bastion.
Warnings: slash, language
Notes: Old writing, from way back in the day, in it's mostly original format (very minor corrections may have been made) A self challenge, to write Vincent Valentine into Kingdom Hearts. Written well before the second game. Song-fic-ish, with only Metallica songs, but hearing the songs are not necessary for reading.
o o o
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail
o o o
As soon as the door shut behind them, they embraced, lips tangling fiercely as they tried to convey their feelings without words. Want and worry and fear and desire and pure simple need poured from one to the other as frantic hands tugged at each other's clothing. Their lovemaking was almost rushed, the feeling of time running out poised over their heads like a guillotine. When they were done they clung to each other.
Cid held Vincent against his chest, stroking his raven hair with one hand as their twin ankhs fluttered between their chests. Vincent wrapped his arms around Cid's torso, feeling that the mechanic was unnaturally tense below him. "Don't be afraid, Highwind." He murmured, placing a light kiss on Cid's collarbone.
"I ain't afraid, I'm fuckin' terrified." Cid replied, hugging Vincent closer. "The gods only know what's going to happen tomorrow."
"We will go back to the castle tomorrow," Vincent said firmly. "We will kill the Heartless within, and we stop Ansem's madness."
"Then what?" Cid asked. "We live happily ever after?"
"Of course." Vincent replied, shifting to place a kiss on Cid's lips. "Happily ever after, together."
"I'm not so sure 'Happily ever after' exists anymore, Vince." Cid replied. Vincent opened his mouth to argue and was interrupted by screams.
o o o
Never begins it, never but once engaged
Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage
o o o
Sephiroth lay on his bed, arms tucked behind his head, so still that Cloud couldn't tell if he was sleeping or awake and thinking. The general had told Cloud to stay at the Inn for the night, rather than go back home to his mother. "I want you nearby in case we have to move quickly," Had been his explanation. Cloud had agreed, but now he was more nervous than he could ever remember being. He was worried about tomorrow, but it also stemmed from the fact that he had never seen Sephiroth sleep before. Even when he had taken them all to a nearly deserted island for a week a few summers ago, he had slept in his own cabin on the boat, rather than join them on the beach. That's when he's the most vulnerable, when he's sleeping, Cloud thought. He doesn't like showing that to others. And hard on the heels of that thought came another: He trusts me enough to let me see him sleep. A slight blush crept up his cheeks at the thought.
"You need your rest, Cloud." Sephiroth said quietly, not moving except for his lips and making Cloud jump a foot. "We'll have hard times ahead."
Cloud's lips quirked. "I'm not sure I can yet." He admitted. "It's still early and I usually don't fall asleep for another couple hours."
Sephiroth's eyes opened, looking across the space between their beds at his student. "You should learn to get your rest whenever you can take it." He said.
Cloud felt his cheeks heat again at the gentle criticism. "I-I've never had a reason to learn." He said.
Sephiroth sighed and sat up, draping his arms around his knees. His boots and heavy coat had been draped over a chair, and he was shirtless except for a pair of suspenders that crossed on the front of his chest. His hair was a rich tumble of silver in the gloom and Cloud's heart burst into an erratic rhythm at the sight of his teacher looking so- so human and so beautiful it hurt to look at him, but hurt more to look away. Sephiroth stared forward into the shadows of the room, a slight quirk on his lips. "I understand what you mean." He said finally. "Not tired enough to sleep, though you know you must." He sighed. "Though you know lives may depend on how tired you are the next day." He finished quietly.
Cloud watched as Sephiroth stood, his hair rippling like water as he moved. He padded across the floor on silent feet to the window that looked out over the street below. The general hugged his elbows against his chest as he stared out the window to the people below, still going about their lives. Cloud, still sitting on his bed, felt his heart crack. Sephiroth seemed, for once, the young man he was, instead of the invincible general everyone saw him as. Steeling himself, Cloud slid from his bed and padded across the room to his teacher. Sephiroth turned towards him, a frown on his brow, as he approached. Swallowing past the nervous lump in his throat, his heart going a million miles a second, Cloud stood on his toes, wrapped his arms around Sephiroth's shoulders and pulled him into a clumsy, shy kiss.
(Wha?!)
Please I don't care if we die if I never see my mom again if I never see YOU again just let me
(Cloud?)
have this to remember please just let me have you to remember let me have just a moment to remember that you really are human-
(Cloud. . . . . .)
He broke the kiss as abruptly as he had started it, letting go of Sephiroth's shoulders and staring at the floor, his face pure scarlet. His heart thundered as he wondered what his teacher's reaction was going to be. He managed to look up, biting his lip, and saw no anger but deep thought in Sephiroth's emerald eyes. His mind suddenly threw out a bit of memory from earlier in the day: Sephiroth had heard his thoughts and had come to help him. Had he heard them again?
(Perhaps I did)
o o o
Said don't tread on me
o o o
Cloud jumped as Sephiroth's voice whispered through his head. His mouth fell open a bit as he stared up at his teacher in shock. Sephiroth's eyes were three parts thoughtful, one part amused, and one part some emotion Cloud couldn't identify. "I'm flattered," The general said softly, "But I think your kiss needs a bit more practice." Cloud's eyes went wide as strong fingers gripped his chin, tipping his head back slightly. Sephiroth's hair fell around their faces as the general leaned forward and brought their lips together a second time. His other hand rested lightly on Cloud's waist, pulling the boy closer. Cloud gripped at Sephiroth's shoulders as his head spun from the sensation of being so close to the one being he loved more than anything else-
Love?
(There is nothing wrong with love, for love shall protect your heart from anything)
Fine if that's the case then I love you love you until the end of time itself please don't leave me behind-
(I won't)
The kiss broke gently and Cloud gasped softly, everything spinning. "... love you." He breathed unconsciously; his fingers trembling as he hesitantly stroked a lock of Sephiroth's hair like he'd wanted to for months. Sephiroth parted his lips to say something, but the sounds of screams from out the window shattered the moment.
o o o
So be it, threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it, settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore...
o o o
Cid had never known exactly how fast Vincent could move in a hurry. One moment they had been lying there and speaking of happily ever after, the next a scream had sounded from outside and his arms were empty, Vincent a rapidly dressing blur at the foot of the bed. Before Cid had time to move from the bed Vincent was already gone, strapping his holster to his waist and thigh. Another scream rent the air and Cid rolled from the bed, landing on his feet and began searching for his clothes. He dressed quickly and left the room, nearly slamming into Cloud as the boy left his room. They didn't speak, only summoned their weapons and ran down the stairs.
Apparently Sephiroth had inherited Vincent's speed for the two blonds found father and son standing beside each other just outside the Inn door, Nanaki and Reeve close by, all of them looking up. Cid looked up and nearly choked. Huge dark shapes filled the sky, streaming from the castle. Once over the city they plunged down, revealing themselves as large red-purple creatures that bore some resemblance to the gargoyles that decorated some buildings. The sigul of Hollow Bastion could clearly be seen on their stomachs as they dove among the streets, bowling people over with their hind legs, tattered-looking wings flapping.
"Ansem." Sephiroth hissed. He walked down the street, unmindful of the chaos around him, to a stable a few buildings down. He lashed out with one foot and kicked the door open, then entered. The others ran after him in time to see him strapping a saddle to a Chocobo's back. He swung up onto the bird and kicked it forward, nearly bowling them all over as he left the stable at a madman's pace. Masamune whirled in the air as he rode, striking down any Heartless within it's reach. He headed for the castle.
"Shit." Cid muttered. "Everyone on a bird." They didn't need to be told twice and hurried to grab Chocobo tack. Soon they were saddled up and riding out, Reeve riding double behind Nanaki.
o o o
Don't tread on me
o o o
Cid decided to take Sephiroth's example and lashed out with his spear at every Heartless he could while urging his mount faster. Vincent emptied his gun as fast as he could and refilled it, his hands working in blurs. Cloud was about to follow example when a familiar cry caught his attention. Ahead he saw Squall surrounded by a writhing mass of black shapes, his gunblade gleaming as he kept them at bay. "Squall!" Cloud shouted, goading his Chocobo straight for the younger boy. He leaned to the side, holding out his hand and Squall grabbed his wrist, swinging up behind him.
"What the hell is going on?" Squall yelled, wrapping one arm around Cloud's waist and clinging to his Gunblade with the other.
"Ansem's lost it and released these things." Cloud replied grimly. "We're going to stop him." He looked back over his shoulder. "You in?"
"Those things took my parents," Squall said flatly. "And-and your mom. I tried to stop them but there were too many. I-I'm sorry I couldn't help." He fell silent a moment. "Yeah, I'm in. I want a piece of these things."
Cloud felt his heart wrench at the knowledge of his mother being taken. Never got to tell her goodbye, he thought grimly. I love you mom. I'll see you again soon.
o o o
Love it or leave it, she with the deadly bite
Quick is the blue tongue, forked as a lightning strike
o o o
Sephiroth dismounted before the castle and ran inside, looking around. These lower levels were the servant’s quarters and Chocobo stables, but no one was around. Belatedly, he remembered sending the servants into the city for the night. He heard a whimpering and turned, finding himself face to face with the door to a storage closet. He pulled it open, Masamune at ready, then froze at the sight within.
Yuffie clung to Aerith, her arms around the older girl's waist, Aerith stroking the younger girl's hair comfortingly. They looked up in shock and fear as Sephiroth wrenched the door open. "S-s-sephiroth?" Aerith whispered, looking at him, wide-eyed. The general lowered his sword slowly and both girls piled out of the closet, wrapping their arms around his waist and burying their faces in his stomach. Sephiroth sighed, carefully sheathing Masamune at his side and laying a comforting hand on each of their backs. He looked up as Cid and Vincent ran in, followed by Cloud, Squall, Nanaki and Reeve.
Cloud stopped short on seeing Aerith and Yuffie clinging to his teacher. "What the-"
"We were looking for you guys." Aerith said, her voice quavering as she released Sephiroth's waist. "W-we thought you might be up here. But no one was here, and we heard those-those-those things coming, so we hid." She shivered. "What were they?"
"Heartless." Squall said. "Monsters that eat people's hearts." The girls stared at him, uncomprehending.
"Hurry." Sephiroth urged. "We have to stop him."
"You think he might still be in the Waterways?" Cloud asked as they took a lift into the castle proper.
"That's where we're starting." Sephiroth replied grimly. But instead of leading them towards the lift into the Waterways, he turned a corner and led them to Cid's workshop, across the wide floor and into the alcove that served as the mechanic's office. "You five," He said, looking at Aerith, Yuffie, Squall, Nanaki and Reeve, "Will stay here." His eyes narrowed as they started to protest. "No arguments." He said sharply. "You will stay here, out of the way. Understand?" They nodded glumly, filing into the alcove. Sephiroth turned abruptly and strode out, the others close behind.
Squall crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his face dark with anger at the unfairness of the situation. Yuffie and Aerith sat on Cid's desk, heads bowed. After a moment, Yuffie looked up. "Hey," She said. "Where'd the kitty-boys go?"
They looked around. Nanaki and Reeve were gone.
o o o
Shining with brightness, always on surveillance
The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance
o o o
Vincent knew they were being followed. He walked at the tail of the small group, Cid before him, Sephiroth in front, Cloud between mechanic and general. Whatever was behind them was quiet, almost deadly silent, but the Heartless within his body alerted him to the thrumming of their hearts and the pulse of their fear. He turned sharply, hand on the butt of the pistol at his hip.
Reeve and Nanaki froze, bare paw-like feet silent on the stone floor. Vincent's eyes narrowed sharply as the others turned to see what had caught his attention. "What," He said flatly. "Are you two doing here?"
"Hunting." Nanaki replied.
Sephiroth came up at Vincent's side, his eyes flaring in anger. "I told you- " He started.
"We know what you told us." Reeve interrupted. The two half-felines were probably the only beings in the world who had enough natural disdain for humans to interrupt Sephiroth while talking and angry. "We also know that Ansem's not in the Waterways." He jerked his head back, motioning towards a side hall that led to the main Lift stop in the heart of the castle. "He came up that way, heading up. Towards the receiving halls."
"How can you possibly know that?" Cid snapped.
Nanaki smiled humorlessly, tapping lightly on one side of his nose. "We are feline, human. Our senses are much more...acute than yours. We know Ansem's scent, and it is coming off the lifts in waves, very recent. He is above us, not below. Below, maybe, a trap, Heartless in wait. Above, Lord Ansem." He looked at them, eyes dark with anger and grief and old pain. "Those things took our home while we were too young to fight back." He said grimly. He raised one hand, short fingers splayed. His nails suddenly shot out, extending his fingers by an inch and a half, each one as sharp as the talons on Vincent's gauntlet. "We want revenge. And with us, you can find Ansem that much quicker."
Sephiroth glared at them, his face set in angry, hard lines. He made an abrupt motion towards the Lift Stop with one hand, giving them permission to lead the way. The feline-boys turned, running almost silent back down the hall, the humans close behind.
o o o
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling on her tail
o o o
If asked, Cid would've sworn that no one could have changed any of the lifts without his knowledge, not even Ansem. He had built every lift, replacing the spiraled central stairs with the contraptions. The lifts could be deactivated with a spoken password, and only activated by a person who knew the counter password. When they reached the lifts, they were, in fact, all deactivated. Cid quickly activated the first one again, and they took it up.
The series was a tedious one; ride a lift, run across a balcony or through a hall, ride another lift, keep moving ever upwards, ever on the lookout for Heartless, casting quick glances out over the city when it was in view. Sephiroth, barely out of childhood but already a tactical genius when they were built, had decided on the long, winding spiral around, inside and outside the castle as a defensive strategy more than anything. Anyone defending the castle would have ample opportunity to waylay an attacker or trap them on an upper level with a spoken word. Now the effectiveness of the strategy was proven as they climbed ever upwards, tense and ever waiting for a horde of Heartless to issue from the castle and sweep them away. They never came and the warriors continued onwards, Nanaki and Reeve leading the way, following Ansem's trail.
One lift crossed the front of the castle. It was much larger than any of the other lifts, and was built simply to give a large group a breath-taking view of both the castle and the city, and was probably the closest thing to a tourist ride that the castle had. No one wondered why Ansem's scent had led to this particular lift when it wasn't necessary, there was another way he could've taken that would have been faster. Maybe he wanted to see the city, or maybe he wasn't expecting pursuit. Whatever the reason, the two felines ran up to the huge lift, which was surrounded by static energy bars. Cid opened his mouth to speak the activation password, but before he could the energy of the lift seemed to reach out and grab those closest to it - Nanaki and Reeve.
The boys cried out as they were dragged into the lift and it set off across the castle, leaving the humans behind on the balcony. Cid cursed, watching it make it's journey, the others crowded around him. "Can you make it come back?" Cloud asked.
Cid shook his head. "It runs on a loop. It'll come back for us and I hope those two have the smarts to stay put until we get there."
If any of the others thought to respond, their words died when the lift stopped halfway through it's journey across the castle and black shaped materialized within it.
o o o
So be it, threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
o o o
Reeve screamed as black smoke appeared before him, condensing into a human- shape with a large hat, flowing robes and a staff. It floated a foot off the ground, it's purple-black robes marked with the royal symbol, it's eyes hidden beneath it's hat. But Reeve knew that they'd be yellow and dead- alive. Heartless eyes. He stumbled back, leaning heavily against Nanaki, and looked around wildly. Two more of the robed Heartless had appeared, slowly floating towards the two felines.
Nanaki screamed, a wild, howling noise full of grief and rage, and pounced at the nearest Heartless, four sets of claws unsheathed and gleaming. The Heartless hit him with it's staff, sending him sprawling, then aimed it at him, a ball of fire erupting from the staff to hit Nanaki square in the chest. Reeve shrieked, running to his friend's side as the three creatures converged on them.
o o o
So be it, settle the score
o o o
Cid's eyes went wide when he saw the Heartless appear on the lift. He turned, his lips forming the request, and saw that Vincent had the same idea, pistol in hand and aiming at the lift. The shot rang out, deafening in close quarters, but the energy around the lift flared, and the bullet ricocheted away. The pistol rang out several times and each time the bullet bounced away. Vincent lowered his gun with a snarl, talented hands already loading a fresh clip. The boys were on their own.
o o o
Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore...
o o o
Nanaki sat up, wincing as the movement sifted the burned skin of his chest. Reeve was at his side, tugging his arm, staring at the approaching Heartless with sheer terror. The three creatures surrounded them, reaching down to them. The two boys fought like cornered animals, biting, scratching, kicking and screaming out in terror, rage and pain as spell upon spell rained down on their bodies. Burnt, frozen and electrocuted, they could do little more than stare in horror as the Heartless closed in, and they felt little more than a tug as their hearts were pulled from them.
Their bodies disappeared. So did the Heartless.
Across the open space between the balcony and lift rang Cloud's scream of grief.
o o o
Don't tread on me