Paper Tiger Burning

I respectfully credit all Original Creators, namely Squaresoft, which became SquareEnix,for these characters. In this way, I pay homage to my Fandom's Original Creator, and illustrate my Community's belief that Fan Fiction is "fair use". I do not claim to own these characters. I do not make money or gil from using these protected characters, nor do I wish to make money or gil from them. In other words, I am borrowing these characters to entertain the adult fanfiction community, but I am doing so with the highest degree of respect to the engineers, game designers, music makers, and voice actors.



Limping, I made it down the hallway toward my apartment. My leg had healed crooked. I’d have to do something about that soon. At least I no longer saw double.

I was filthy. The rank smell coming off my clothing made me half sick. Fumbling for my key, I discovered it missing. I had to knock on my own fucking door. Sighing, I raised my fist and brought it down. The door moved underneath my hand. I pushed it open.

The moment I saw them I remembered everything. It staggered me.

There she was, my reason for my living, sleeping mostly upon my reason for life. They huddled together, peacefully lying underneath my favorite blanket. Hojo had his arms around her, cradling her head against his spare chest. They looked so serene, so content. It filled me with pleasure that they would support each other this way.

They were united for my sake. I brought them together. Yet, they clung as one in the same way that the two small children in the lab had adhered together. I caused them terrible trouble. Rather than abandon me, they sought each other.

Humbled, I slowly and silently shut the door.

Hojo opened his eyes. Glittering black sought and found me. I saw the relief and gratitude flooding him. His head tilted. Words I could not hear escaped his lips, directly into the ear of my flower girl. Then, her eyes opened.

The two stared into me, thankfulness and adoration suffusing their gazes.

I limped farther in.

My cell rang. I felt surprised it had survived my fight with Cloud. Heaving a silent sigh, I flipped it open. Stagnant rainwater dribbled down my neck.

“Sir?” Eldon’s voice softly assaulted me

“Yes, Eldon?” I answered.

“The trial starts tomorrow,” he said. “It is a public trial, the vote of the people decide which way the wheels of justice turn.”

“When and where?” I asked, still watching the two people I cared for the most. Hojo, fully alert now, listened to the conversation, but Aerith already slept again, and little wonder. She had to be absolutely done in.

“Sector Seven, block five, ten in the morning,” he said. “You, Professor Hojo and Miss Gainsborough are all principle witnesses. Valentine, Strife and Tseng are on the list as well, as am I.” He paused, making a soft sound of worry. “Sir? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Eldon,” I told him, lying. I felt more exhausted than I ever, ever had in my life. “Who runs the company right now?”

“Tseng, but he isn’t happy about it,” Eldon answered. “Reeve will come in soon to confer with Tseng, but Palmer is expected. Despite being head of Space Exploration, the lack of other directors has put him on top.” Eldon made a noise of fatigue and determination. “I intend to stay here to update Palmer and Reeve; I’m going to make them sit through the footage.”

“Good man,” I said, my eyes glued to the two most important to me. “Call me if you run into any trouble.”

“I will.” Eldon gave another sigh. “Sir? The children Havars had? They are all in the orphanage Strife and Lockhart run. Shall I organize the older ones as witnesses to the prosecution?”

“Yes.” I bent to unlace my boots. “Don’t force the younger ones to participate unless they are capable of it.” I hesitated. “Eldon? Are you alright?” His voice sounded more than tired.

“I’m…fine,” he said. “I found my daughter in the compound, did you know?”

My stomach lurched. “No,” I said. “I didn’t know. How is she?”

“She’s…upset,” Eldon said softly. “Havars’ men managed to grab her less than three weeks ago, but she’s… having trouble.” His voice hitched. “Rude found her before I did. I have her home with me now, but she’s very sick.”

I looked at my father, who could hear everything I said and even what Eldon said. He nodded at me. Though just as tired as I, he would go.

“My father is coming over,” I said. “He can evaluate Lily.”

“Thank you, General,” Eldon sighed. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

“Do that,” I said. “Goodbye, Eldon.”

“Goodbye, General.”

I hung up.

Hojo wormed his way out from under my flower girl, bunching the cover up and tucking it around her so that she wouldn’t miss him. That simple act of caring illustrated to me more than anything how my father had changed.

“Where?” he asked simply in a sleep-roughened voice, yawning.

“Sector three,” I answered. “542, Halva Avenue.”

Hojo threaded himself into one of my heavy coats. It dragged the ground. “I’ll be back before dawn,” he informed. He made as if to walk past me, but I grabbed him.

For a long, long moment we stared at each other. I thought of all he’d done, all he’d endured. It had hurt him to see me as a child. Without a care I enveloped him in my arms and hugged him tight to my chest. He felt fragile yet strong, capable yet delicate. I took him in, abundantly appreciative of who he was and what he could do. “Father,” I murmured.

“Sephiroth,” he murmured back, relaxed in my hug. “Son.”

Eyes wet, I let him go.

Hojo stepped back, regarding me with bottomless, damp eyes. “It’s alright, boy,” he murmured gently. “I’ll let myself in if you aren’t awake.” He put his hand on the knob. “I’m proud of you,” he said softly. “I would claim you as my son from the highest rooftops.” He twisted the brass knob slowly, his eyes still upon me. “Now, you take your rest with her,” he said, motioning to Aerith. “Sleep the sleep of the innocent.” His lips curled back in a suggestive smile. “Or at least sleep like one absolved.”

“I will.” I put my hand upon his shoulder. “Call me if you need anything,” I urged.

Hojo rolled his black-marble eyes. “Boy, if I need you, you’ll know it,” he said. “For now, pay attention to that goddess on your couch.” He wrinkled his nose. “But you should clean up first. You reek like a dead animal.”

I looked toward my flower girl.

“I will,” I promised. His suggestion had merit. I did reek like a dead animal.

Hojo departed.

Quietly, I bypassed Aerith and went straight for the bathroom. My father was right; I couldn’t touch her until I’d changed and showered. She probably wouldn’t complain, but…

I stripped, throwing my pants and boots directly into the garbage. No amount of dry cleaning could take away the blood and grime ground into the torn leather. I got under the shower without waiting for it to warm. At this point I believed I could take the awful sterilizers used in the lab, and without any complaint or mental collapse. I probably carried a dozen diseases from that filthy water in that abandoned building. I scrubbed until my skin looked pink, shampooed three times and dug an acre of crud out from under my nails. As a finisher I dumped a bottle of rubbing alcohol over myself and fled the bathroom before the fumes could go up my nose.

Clean and clad in a pair of drawstring sleep pants, I walked back into the living room.

Aerith slept on; unaware her scientific teddy bear had abandoned the couch. I gazed down upon her, heat developing in my cheeks at remembering some of the things I’d asked her. But Shiva bless her, she’d handled me exactly right.

She was so beautiful, so kind. I knew I didn’t deserve her…

But things like that never stopped me.

I wanted her more right now than I ever had. But I wouldn’t bother her rest. She’d worked so hard today, done so much. She’d even killed my psychotic mother. I owed her for my freedom, my emotional health, for making up with my father, and for showing me I could be loved as well as feared. She amazed me.

I gathered up my flower girl and carried her into the bedroom.

“Sephiroth,” she sighed, touching me at my throat with her soft lips. The contact sent pleasant chills down my back.

“Aerith,” I answered simply. “Lie with me?”

“Forever,” she murmured.

I stretched out, dominating the bed. She rolled up against me, taking pleasure in my body. “Sephiroth?” she murmured.

“Yes?”

“Hold me?”

Heart collapsing, I took her against me as securely and closely as I could. “Forever,” I answered, returning her vow. “I’ll hold you forever, my little flower girl.”