Sunset

Disclaimer: As it was with the rest of the chapters, I don't own Final Fantasy VII, or any of it's characters. No money is made off of this fanfiction.

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Desperation

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The job ended up lasting over a week, which Sephiroth was grateful for. He wanted some time away from the Slums, the headquarters, the documents, and the Turks...and his own mind. He was able to fill it with...well, monster slaughter instead. Upon returning, though, he was disheartened to hear that Zack had not returned yet, though he was still doing quite well; the job ended up taking longer than necessary. I have a feeling I know why, too.

Why, you two. Why did you do this to us, he thought, his mental voice dripping with betrayal and sadness.

He missed his old friends, he missed the times they had training, and his missed the past, there was no denying it to himself. He tried to look to the future, but the more documents he read, and the more he realized that he had a feeling his old friends were not going to make it out of this alive, made it very difficult to be positive about things.

He sighed deeply, and walked back to his room, somewhat feeling his age for once. Well, all thirty years of it. He wasn't that old, but walking through a crowd of fresh-faced seventeen and eighteen year old grunts and 3rd-class soldiers, with their dreams of making it big, sure made him feel that way.

He wished he could have memories like that. His memories were filled with nothingness, and then...being a soldier, then a general. That was it.

He reached his room and stripped his coat off, his mood rather foul. Tseng had seen him as he walked back in; he was leaving to help Zack out, apparently. He spared Sephiroth a glance, but said nothing to him. Just as well. Tseng knew when to keep his mouth shut.

For his sake, he better.

He sat on the edge of his bed, and looked out the window again.

Sunrise.

Again, in the beautiful colors...more red and orange this time. He had gotten back early after a long drive and helicopter flight; he wanted sleep right now, he wanted to maybe eat something. It wasn't a hard job, but it was a long, tiring one...and he was mentally tired, as well. Very mentally tired.

He closed his eyes for what he thought was only a few moments, but it could have been longer, judging by the way the light had changed. His phone was ringing. He shook his head, shaking the remnants of the dream away, and the pleasant scent...flowers...away from himself.

He wasn't sure who was calling, but he answered. Someone from headquarters, perhaps?

''Sephiroth?''

''A..Aerith?'' he answered. I should have known. With the way my luck has been going. ''Is everything okay there?''

''Fine,'' she answered. ''We haven't had any serious attacks. The few monsters were able to be dealt with...nothing we haven't seen.''

''Why are you calling?'' He figured he would ask straight out.

''I...'' There was silence.

Why would you be calling me, if there wasn't some problem there?

He didn't know if he wanted to know the answer.

''I was thinking of a few things...that's all. Things you mentioned to me.''

He sighed on the other line, but not in an unpleasant manner. Do I want to go there?

''Sephiroth?''

''I'll be there in awhile. There are some things I have to do today in Sector 5 anyway.'' That wasn't totally true, but he would find something. He was sure there was some more information to be gathered, perhaps.

The Genesis copies were everywhere, after all.

''O...ok. I'll be in the church,'' she said, a bit reluctantly. She's hiding something, too.

I don't know if I want to meet there. But he would at least go there...maybe take her somewhere else. Perhaps so the Turks wouldn't be led on.

''I'll need to take care of some things first. I won't be able to get there until tonight.'' He hung up, quickly. It might have been a bit rude, but perhaps that might drive her away a bit. Which would be a good thing, after all.

He decided he wanted a shower before he left. He had just come back from a mission, and he felt like he could use one. He stripped and turned it has hot as he could handle it-which was very hot, indeed-and stood inside. The weather was quite chilly outside now, so the heat felt rather welcome.

He stood there, the hot water pouring over him and his hair, trying to keep his thoughts on more work-related things, else he start thinking about showers too hard.

Especially showers with another person in there with them.

Now, I know I'm going too far.

He snarled and punched the wall; it cracked easily under his fist. He left it there, unmindful. He would fix it later. He held back, so his fist didn't go through the wall, at least. It wasn't like him to lose his temper like a boy, but emotions finally overcame him a bit. He was frustrated, and he was out of enemies to hit.

What is it going to take to get her out of my mind?

He was afraid for the answer.

He got out of the shower, drying a bit, wrapping the towel around himself, before lying back on his bed, hands under his head. He stared at an interesting looking speck on the ceiling, trying to put off his little trip, perhaps being late would help matters a bit. People didn't usually like when others were late and didn't tell them.

He found himself moving, though...when he was alone, he was lost too deeply in his thoughts, which ran an uncomfortable range of topics. Still frustrated, he began to dress himself. Maybe it would be better to just tell her; get it out of the way, explain that he did not want to work that way, if things began to get a bit too...heated. He was a perceptive man, and could see that she was looking at him many times in much of the same way-why, he didn't know, but she did-even though she had interest in another. He was the greatest soldier who had ever lived, surely he could explain things to a seventeen year old that it should stay distant, but maybe at least cordial, between them. Or that he had no interest.

The second option would be a bald-faced lie, on top of it...and he was pretty sure she could figure that out.


He put his coat on, and turned to look out the window one last time before going to fill his day with random busywork. Perhaps a bit of training will set my mind at ease.

--

Dusk had rolled around, and he found himself trudging toward Sector 5, to the church, again. He had delved into the data room's files for awhile, and again, he had read things that made his head hurt. Taking more aggression out in the training room, he was actually glad to get out of there.

What's happening? It's like my entire world is changing. So quickly, too.

As he approached the church, he found himself calmed, a bit. This very place seemed to have an aura like that. The sun was long down, and there was a definite chill in the air.

He saw Aerith, in her blue dress with a jacket over it, waiting outside.

''Why aren't you inside?'' was the first thing he asked.

''I...don't know. It doesn't smell so bad in this part of the slums...I guess I wanted to catch what little breeze can make it in through the plates.''

''Still not wanting to go outside?'' He managed a little smile.

She returned it. ''Maybe...not yet. I guess I'm waiting for...the right time.''

They stood in a slightly awkward silence for awhile. One could almost feel some sort of tension in the air; it wasn't necessarily a bad tension...but almost like they were waiting for the inevitable to happen.

It's like we both know something...but aren't saying anything.

''We should head out of here. To somewhere.''

She nodded. ''Yeah...the park, maybe.'' She seemed to know what he was thinking. She could read between the lines; we shouldn't be seen like this, at this time of night. People might...think something.

The walk to the park was short; he leaned against one of the walls, not feeling like sitting at the moment. He had been sitting most of the day in the data room, and his well-muscled body was used to a lot of exercise. She sat close to him, on a bench, looking up...still not saying anything.

Like a couple of teenagers sneaking out after dark. How cute.

''I do sometimes...think I'm being watched, still.''

''With everything going on, it's natural.''

She looked up at him. ''I've always felt different. Special somehow. I still don't know why. My mother doesn't tell me much of it...but I've always had a sort of gift.'' She looked down. ''If you consider being able to tell if someone passes on a gift.''

''At least you can get...closure on things. Better than not knowing, perhaps.''

''You seem sometimes like me. Like you have gifts.''

If you knew where I got mine from, you'd probably run away. I'm getting a rather sinking feeling about this all.

''Many of us do, in SOLDIER. They...make sure of it.''

''It sounds...unnatural. I feel like I've had mine forever. I didn't know...my real mother or father.''

''Neither do I.'' He turned toward her again. ''It might be what you feel.''

''Maybe...but...ah, perhaps it's all silly.'' She sighed, but smiled up again. The girl didn't seem to let things get her down. He found himself envying that a bit. ''I don't know why I wanted to talk to you, exactly. You seem like you...know things. More things than many others.''

I don't know as much as you think. But...if it makes you feel better. I'm sure...He pushed the thought of his comrade out of his head. He didn't want to think of him right now.

It just made his guilt worse. He knew he had been looking at her the entire time she was talking, when she was looking out to the distance, and he was sure she knew, because he knew she had done the same to him.

He sat next to her on the bench. Stop this, now. It's...nothing right now. If this keeps going, it will be something...and then something else. Do you want it to go that far, you fool?

But a beautiful young woman had the ability to turn any man into a fool, even if she wasn't trying. Aerith wasn't the type to try to lead men on; he could feel nothing of the sort from her. She only had to sit there, being...herself.

He supposed it could go both ways.

''Do you ever wonder about your real parents?''

''Sometimes. I think we all do.''

''I know my mother's name, that's all. I don't know where she was from, or how she died. I only know her name. I don't even remember growing up.''

She nodded. ''I remember growing up...I remember my foster mother took me in, right from the slums...from the trainyard. I had thought of her as my mother ever since. I was so young, then.''

You're still so young, he thought to himself. ''So you've never been above ground.''

''Never, than what I can remember. I was always...scared.''

''Perhaps it's old memories. You'll get over it, I think.''

''Maybe I will. I think I will.'' She nodded to herself, rubbing her hands together. She placed them back at her sides.

He found himself absently laying his hand over one. It was a bit cold. She tensed, but didn't shrug him away. He had no idea what he was doing, but she seemed cold, and it was just a reassuring hand. He stroked it a few times before taking it away.

''You'll find your answers. Hopefully in less time than I've been looking for mine. I'm still looking. I just...don't like what I see. I think it might be better off for myself...and maybe others, if I didn't know everything.''

''That's an odd thing to say.''

''Maybe,'' he said, softly. Aerith found herself enjoying the tone of his voice, it was...soothing somehow. Deep, soothing, and mature.

The silence they sat in was less uncomfortable this time, but there was definitely still some sort of tension in the air. He knew exactly what it was, too.

They both seemed to be waiting, still.

He turned toward her again, finally...meeting her gaze.

''Are you okay?'' she asked, suddenly.

''Fine,'' he replied, in a low voice. Sitting this close to her, his mind had started to wander in the silence. First it was over things he had read, then it had come to her. It always came back to her.

He began to not care about anything...he wanted to touch her. He was angry at himself, but he was tired of denying it.

He reached his hand out-he wasn't wearing his gloves tonight-and touched her hair, running his hand through it, cursing himself in his mind.

Some friend you are. He wasn't extremely close to Zack, but he considered himself at least a comrade in arms, and he did like the young man.

He had weaknesses, though. The great Sephiroth had weaknesses, oh yes.

Aerith at first pulled back, looking at him a bit surprised...but she didn't pull completely away.

''S...Sephiroth?''

''Sorry.'' He turned back, giving her hair one last stroke. It was soft...so very soft. He could still smell the flowers on her, and he thought back to the dream he had about two weeks before.

Where he had to handle himself like a teenager in the bathroom afterward.

He shivered.

''Are you cold?'' she asked, sitting a couple of inches closer.

''No,'' he said. ''Maybe...I should go now.''

''You...don't have to.''

''Things are going in a direction that...it might be better if they didn't go.'' He was straight with her, finally.

She looked down. He could tell she felt as guilty as he did.

With her, it was the curiosity. He was older, experienced, and beautiful on top of it. Intelligent, too. Strong. She did somehow feel safe with him there. She knew she was young, and young people had natural curiosity.

Some of them act on it. She was going down that path. Part of her wanted to turn back, there was someone interested in her, and her in him, even though they weren't dating yet. She didn't feel like she was cheating, but something felt...wrong about this. At the same time, she had a hard time helping herself.

She reached out, and ran a hand through his silver hair. She had been wanting to know at least how that felt. Perhaps her curiosity would be satiated with something simple, like this.

His eyes closed, as he felt her small hand running through it. He opened them again, looking at her.

''You...we....shouldn't do this.''

It felt so nice, though.

He reached out again, running his hand through the full length of her hair, starting from her head. Brushing his hand through it, again and again. She leaned her head into it...a bit reluctant, but she soon gave into the feeling. Her hand reached up, over his.

I can still stop this. It hasn't gone too far.

He didn't want to, though.

His hand traced to her face; the skin smooth, her eyes still looking into his. He felt a mixture of self-loathing, attraction, and outright arousal. His mind was turning several ways at once; it was enough to drive a man mad.

He traced his thumb over her lips; several times...he finally felt her brush a kiss against it.

Damn you...you aren't supposed to want this, either.

Her own mind was racing; she also didn't know why she wanted this, totally. She had the curiosity, still. A warmth was spreading low in her stomach...she wanted to stop it, but she couldn't help it. She wasn't feeling too good with herself, either. But she still kissed his thumb as it passed over, again.

He wanted to take her in so many ways right now, it made him feel dirty just thinking about it.

While his thoughts were spinning, he took her head in his other hand, leaned forward, and kissed her, with little ceremony. He kept his lips to hers; closed at first, opening them after a short time to probe with his tongue. She tensed rather hard; he was about to break it, when she slowly opened her mouth, letting his tongue inside.

She isn't making this any easier...damn it. Damn it all.

His hands wrapped around her back; hers touched his chest for a moment before wrapping around him as well; feeling out his muscles under his long, leather jacket, running through his hair. His breathing grew heavy before he finally released her, pushing her slightly away. He sat down, his head in his hand.

She kissed so pure. He knew she had never kissed anyone before.

I stole her first kiss.

He had a sinking feeling if this kept up, he'd be stealing something else, as well. He pushed that thought out of his head as quickly as he could.

''I...I'm sorry...'' she started to say. ''Did I do...something wrong?''

This whole thing is wrong. It's not just you, though. We both are doing something wrong right now.

''No. It...'' He turned toward her again, allowing his hand to run through her hair, down her face.

Why was she so beautiful?

Before he could think, he brushed her hair aside, leaned down, and pressed his lips to her neck.

She shuddered at the feeling of his warm mouth against her skin, which was cooled from the breeze-it felt too good. It made her feel a bit dirty again as well; she found herself leaning her head back, despite her thoughts.

She wanted to stop this as well, as much as he did...but she didn't want to. Like any girl, she had thoughts...she wondered what it was like to do some things. She just didn't know why they were with him. She moaned softly as his lips parted, and his tongue snaked out slowly, to taste her skin.

It tasted even better than it did in the dream.

There will be a point of no return, soon.

He continued tracing his lips around her neck, her sitting right next to him, her head leaning against his shoulder, as he worked; his hand found her waist.

He finally pulled away, sparing her neck one more lick, as he leaned back, breathing heavily. She sat next to him, still shivering; she enjoyed that way too much, she thought.

''I...really think I should go now,'' he said, in a low, somewhat quivering voice.

''Sephiroth...'' she started. Her hand found his, and fumbled into it.

Damn it, wo...girl, why are you doing this? Do you want this? Do you really want this?

''Look, tomorrow...if you want, just...meet me by the train...around this time.'' He stood up suddenly, fumbling his hand out of hers. ''If you want. You can stay here, if you like. I'm not making you. Just...'' If she really wants this...as much as I do...she will. If not...if she has a day to cool off, she might decide the right thing and not show up. For that, I would be grateful. Maybe one of us has common sense.

''By the train?''

''Yes. We can take a trip...I have my...SOLDIER gets their...own quarters.'' She was smart enough, he figured, to read between the lines. ''Again...you can stay here, if you like.''

''Why are you leav...''

''It's not a good idea if we...here, now. The walls have ears...and eyes.''

She nodded. ''Sephiroth....'' She stood next to him...and planted a single kiss on his chest, before turning quickly to walk away. She was walking a bit...wobbly. He grabbed her before she could get far, pulled her toward him, and kissed her on the lips again; full on, letting his tongue dart inside her mouth again, hers following...clumsy, like a new kisser would. It was no less arousing, though. The sick part of him thought it was even more so...because he was the one breaking her in. He let her go after that.

Please, make the right decision. It's up to you. I've got enough self-loathing right now as it is. Be the one to stop this. I don't think I can anymore.

He watched to make sure she got back to the path to the church safely. He could do that, at least.

A/N: I guess we'll find out what happens, here...hopefully everyone is still with me. This story has been a little harder to write than my other ones.