Chaos in Gaia

He tossed and turned that night; images of a flashing white smile overlaid the usual image of the unearthly beautiful woman he dreamed of.



That smile… it put the cat in the old story to shame; full of so many hidden meanings. He pondered them, turned it over and over in his head. He laid there for GAIA knows how long until he finally rolled out of the bed he had been given.



He needed to talk to Duo again; whether that led to a spar or a real conversation he didn’t care, he needed some form of distraction form his turbulent thoughts.



As he slid out of the home he spotted the cadet- Cloud Strife- perched on small metal barrel with his rifle balanced against his shoulder. He approached and asked quietly,” Guard detail down here Cadet?” Cloud turned to look at him, bright blue eyes regarding him carefully before he murmured,” No sir, just couldn’t sleep and I had it drilled into me that keeping your rifle on you at all times might save your life some day.”



Sephiroth nodded before moving away; the quiet lilting voice of the cadet causing him to pause once more,” Hopefully you find what ever you’re looking for in Duo sir. You deserve a measure of peace for yourself.” He turned his head to give Cloud a sharp gaze but his eyes were closed in a serene form of pseudo-meditation and were no longer on the general.



Shaking his head he tossed thoughts of the inordinately observant Cadet into the box in his head labeled ‘Mysterious but Irrelevant for now’ and trudged on in his quest to find Duo. He managed to retake his path through the pipelines to that door.



He stared for a moment at the black wrought iron before pushing on it.



He was surprised when it swung open easily; so stepping through he found himself once more in the black draped room. Sephiroth looked around carefully pushing aside the hangings to find other doors hidden out of his sight.



He opened one at random and found himself in a living room of sorts; with large plush furniture in dark silver, red, black, and a strange green accent. He stepped back and closed the door before opening the next; a computer room with one large console dominating it. Again he closed the door before moving to open another, no Duo in this one, but it was a room; opulent and beautiful.



Judging by the grandeur he guessed this to be the only other thing that Duo had allotted himself for a personal comfort. The bed had been set into the floor with a hanging over it, wide plush body pillows were littered amongst the many blankets. The black room had no wall hangings to cover the polished dark metal of the walls.



It gave off the feel of a creatures den; one that would lure you in only to entrap you in this strange version of a gilded cage.



“What are you doing in here?” He jumped and turned, face to face with Duo.



He was being given a suspicious stare and Seph retreated as Duo advanced on him,” Well? What are you doing here General?” Sephiroth felt the edge drop away at his heels and knew he’d reached the edge of the bed. He attempted to gain some control of the situation,” I came looking for you. I was bored and desired a spar.”



Duo chuckled mockingly,” A spar at this hour? Had it occurred to you that I might be sleeping?” Sephiroth merely grunted and crossed his arms,” I rated you for an insomniac like myself.” Duo glared,” Yeah, well ask before you lump people in the same category as you.”



Duo circled around Seph and slipped his shoes off before flopping over into the copious pile of pillows and blankets. Sephiroth watched fascinated as the braided youth burrowed his way into them before settling down to stare up at him lazily,” Sorry to say I’m not interested in a spar. I want sleep, so if you want some rest too you’re welcome to sleep here or in the guest room, it’s not the next door but the door after.” Duo rolled to lie on his back and grinned up at him abruptly,” But I can guarantee better sleep if you sleep in the bed with me.”



He merely crossed his arms stubbornly,” How can you guarantee that?” The sincere honesty in Duo’s next statement shocked him,” Because I knew someone like you, he had nightmares; so he eventually took me up on the same offer and slept better for it.”



Seph looked down at the teen that had been nothing but a pain in his ass since he’d shown up and realized that despite it all he had truly done nothing any other person might do if they had the talents and time.



He shrugged off his jacket and leaned over to unbuckle and unlace his boots. Slipping out of them he carefully removed the straps for his knives from his thigh before sliding into the bed with Duo.



Duo scooted slightly out of his way while he got settled in before dropping a pillow over his chest and laying on him. Sooner than Sephiroth could protest Duo had dropped off; so he let him stay there and found himself drifting off to sleep not long after.



Anyone that entered but an hour later would find the two together; the original position changed as Seph lay with Duo cradled to his chest with no barriers, Duo lay with his arms around Seph’s neck.



A picture of peace…



~1 ½ weeks Later~



Sephiroth smiled as he watched the even larger community; the under ground society had everything. Hell, a bar had even been opened. There were the occasional rabble rousers and rowdy moments from people. But it seemed that his men and a few of the TURKS had taken to this place; so with Duo and them keeping the peace any issues were generally settled swiftly.



Right now he was Duo shop in the market district, pointedly ignoring Hojo who had taken to shadowing the young man and would question him on anything and everything. HE never seemed to get he hint that his presence was unwanted, either that or he didn’t care. The latter was the one he was leaning towards.



Suddenly one of Duo’s runners came careening through the crowd shouting,” Duo-sama, Duo-Sama!” Duo turned and caught the girl before she crashed and fell,” What’s up Karina?”



The Girl panted before gasping out,” Soldiers-huff huff- coming this way! Hear-wheeze- them saying something about rescuing the pres!”



Duo’s eyes visibly hardened and Sephiroth moved from his watching spot to stand next to him as he did he commented,” It took them long enough. But this is going to be the work of Heidegger, with Reeves providing the plans for the city underground.” Duo nodded,” Well than we just need to have a nice little party waiting for them, don’t we?”



His cloak swirled around him as he did an abrupt turn, it billowed out as he ran- Sephiroth close behind- Duo yelling out as he went,” Battle Stations people! Scouts to your posts, Medics get your things together, all front combat units move to the surface, snipers pick you poison and get yourselves comfy up top too! MOVE IT PEOPLE they’re coming now.” A malicious grin spread across his face as people rushed around and he stopped at the door leading up,” And we don’t want them to be disappointed do we?”



A laugh broke free from Duo that many took up; a loud sound of vindictive glee.





Tbc…



Okay, so Duo has got a little plan for the incoming Shinra foot soldiers. What ever is he going to do? *cackles* Wait and see.