No Stars in Midgar

Rating: nothing bad this chapter but later definitely Mature – NC-17 (Yaoi / Some mild het stuff in some chapters)

Pairs: Eventually a Sephiroth x Zack thing, but there will be some Angeal x Zack, Zack x Cloud, and some non con stuff involving Genesis.

Story: I thought I'd do a Sephiroth x Zack fic based round the events of Crisis Core

AN: I kinda got inspired by my one shot SephxZack fics.




Prologue




Head tilted back, he looked to the sky, the stars were so brilliant out here. He had no idea what inspired him to look up. To take in everything the sky had to offer. The breath of the wind touching his cheeks telling him he was alive. It told him he could do this. He could move from this life onto something better.



He was strong, he wasn't too shabby with a sword either. That's what had done it. His sword the moment he felt the blade speak to him.

The forests that he had played in as a child, had become infected with monsters, and he had only wanted to help the kids play where he had used to. So he'd used the sword, it was one that was given to him as a present to replace the wooden one his dad had made him when he was five.



The blade had glistened that night, silver flashing he had taken down not one or two of them, but several by himself. He had come back alive and his blood had been pumping, coursing through his body.

Covered in dirt and monster entrails his mother had hugged him in a panic, while his father had slapped him over the back of the head.

The punishment grounded for a week and forced to come straight home after helping the neighbors plow their field.



Regardless of the punishments he'd gone out the next week and done it again. It became a routine. He found while killing the monsters they dropped items he could use. So he kept fighting them sometimes it would be a bogus items other times they would drop gil.

That was when the idea hit him. Join ShinRa fight the good fight protect the people and take down the enemy. It sounded good. So for the past year he'd gone off and done his monster hunting.

A couple of times he'd nearly died, but he had pulled through been grounded, plowed more fields and went out and did it again. The money he got from killing them and doing the odd job on the nearby farms helped him save. He had enough he was sure of it. He had bought his tickets to cross the continent and go to Midgar.



It took a lot more courage to pack a single duffel bag up than it did to take down a swarm of giant hornets.

But he knew he could do it. He could help people and be world famous like Sephiroth. It was his dream, he could be the next Sephiroth, be a hero.

Sure he knew he was a bit young but ShinRa had the facilities to train him and he had faked his parent's authorization, so they wouldn't be contacted.

If it didn't work out he could always come home. He knew that. That's how his parents were. Forgiving. Loving. Understanding. So what if he was fourteen he could do it. He just had to remain positive like his mother taught him.



Letting the stars glitter above him, the clouds rolled over them swallowing them in a wave of white fluffiness. He had heard there were no stars in Midgar, and he couldn't believe it. How could there be no stars in Midgar? He loved the sky, it was so bright and brilliant, even at night he could sit here for hours and let it swallow him hole.

'I can do it.' He told himself.



He'd join the infantry first then show them all he had what it took. He'd be a 1st Class SOLDIER and hero in no time.

But one step at a time, he had to leave Gongaga and leave his parents, leave his friends and the cute girl across the street. He could do that he knew he could. People moved to Midgar all the time, because it was better and they were building it up and making it awesome. If they could move to Midgar he could too.



The bus would pass the outskirts of his town in an hour. He had time to kill. So he sat there staring up at the night sky. His parents asleep on the inside, unaware their only son was outside at this hour leaning against the bricks of the only home he'd ever known.



When they woke in the morning they would find him gone... only a single note left in place of where he had slept.



~*~*~*~



Zack stepped off the bus, he was tired, exhausted even. Adjusting the bag he looked ahead, there it was.

Lit up like a Mako reactor, glowing. Like a beacon in the darkening sky saying: “Here I am you're close now!”

Zack wanted to run but nobody else was running to the building, they were walking, strolling at normal speeds.

So Zack decided to walk and he decided he would take in the three block walk at the same time.



The city it was overwhelming, he spent more time looking up at the buildings that stretched forever. He was so busy looking up he bumped into someone.

“Sorry.” he apologized.

He saw the auburn haired man in SOLDIER uniform the red coat, Mako blue eyes glared at him.

There was just a “Hmph” of disapproval then he walked on.

Zack felt the hand touch his shoulder as he was looking onward. He looked to the gloved hand.

“It's getting late kid, don't linger in this area too long. It's not exactly safe.” The man remarked.

Zack saw the second SOLDIER uniform that was two SOLDIER's in less than a minute since he'd got off the bus. If they wandered round like this then that meant he really had a chance.

“I won't...” Zack replied.



The chin length brown black hair got him, the stubble, this man was the epitome of manly men, heroic men like the type in comic books that women fell at the feet of. This man looked like one of those men.

That or give him a loin clothe throw him in the jungle and he'd go for broke.

“Genesis.” The man growled following the other in red leather.

'He even growls like he's in the jungle.' Zack thought to himself watching the bulk and muscle walk off.



Zack turned round and he could feel the flush on his cheeks. He didn't know why he was blushing he just was. That man he'd never seen a man like that, so much muscle, so defined, seeing someone in real life who didn't wield a large god like hammer it was to weird.



Zack shook his head, he kept his eyes in front, there would be no more distractions of looking up or ogling beef cake SOLDIER's. There would be just him focused and looking forward and maybe looking to the side... okay so totally looking to the side but how could he not?!



He had never seen the women of the night coming out to 'play'. He was new to it, he'd read about them, sort of. Given his parents kept his reading materials back home to strict education regime's with the occasional comic book or war novel or research and some good old family classic Gongaga recipes.

Zack tried not to stare as he walked past blushing. He could see why his parents said the city tainted pure people.

They had never said it was sinful, just that it was a person's choice to how they lived their life and that until he was legal, he was their responsibility. Until then he was not to engage with them. But that didn't mean not talk to them right? Country boy curiosity made him want to but the sun setting also made him want to get to ShinRa before it closed and sign up, then find himself somewhere for the night to sleep.



~*~*~*~



He had made it into the building and filled in the forms. There was an academic test in two days time for the next intakes and over the next week various other tests and simulations to see what the new intakes excelled at.

Two days was a bit of a wait for him and his limited funds. He didn't know if he could find somewhere to stay either.

They had told him that the doctors were in so he could get his medical done that night but there was a wait. Zack had agreed. Anywhere to sit for a while maybe get a nap in would have been good.



The waiting room wasn't packed, but it wasn't empty either it looked like there was only one or two doctors on with a nurse and there was about six people before him in a waiting room that was probably the size of his backyard.

'I'm not sure I'm going to get used to how big everything is.' Zack thought bitterly.

So he sat there and he waited. Tucked his bag behind his head and took a nap while he waited for his name to be called.



~*~*~*~



Zack was told to head home for the night and sleep off the blood loss, the nurse assumed he had accommodation in Midgar. He didn't tell her otherwise.



The doctor had taken more than his worth, the guy was like a creepy vampire with glinty glasses and hair pulled back into a pony tail. It must have been at least a liter of blood the four eyed freak had taken stating it was for future use. How much blood did they need to see if he was compatible with Mako enhancements anyway?



Walking out of the ShinRa building Zack looked down the street, he forgot to ask someone where the nearest cheap hotel was. One that wouldn't ask him for ID. ID he didn't have. All he had was a ShinRa guest pass till after the tests.



Shoving his hands in his pockets he just walked following the crowds in front of him.



He found himself standing outside the same bus stop he had been let off at. He looked at the lit up sign quizzically then to the arrow pointing to a terminal round the corner.

He'd camped out night in the forest before. But this was the city, he needed information and the best place to get that was inside the terminal.

Walking into the terminal, he looked round, it was easing out of the peak hour traffic. There was a map stating the different sectors of Midgar and he walked up to it looking at the two giant circles one marking above the plate and the other marking below the plate.

Zack had never been to a city that was separated by plates before.

Eventually he got over that fascination and decided to look for the information booth.

It was in the center of the terminal on the other side of the ticket booth.



Walking up to the lit up semi-circle, he took notice that she was on display behind that glass with nothing more for fresh air that that through the small hole where she could slide and collect whatever documentation required through. She had several holes in the glass at head level so people could hear her speak. But there was also a speaker button for her to hit if it was too loud in the station. At least Zack gathered that's what that button was, or it was going to be a panic button trapping her in there, in the unlikely situation someone would hold up a bus terminal.



Zack stepped up to the counter. The women behind wore horn rimmed glasses and her strawberry blonde hair was pulled into pigtails with purple ribbons, she was chewing gum and reading a trashy romance novel.

“Can I help you?” She asked not even looking at him from behind her book.

“Uh yeah... I was wondering where the nearest cheap hotel was.” Zack asked.

She grabbed a pamphlet next to her and slid it across the counter underneath the protective glass.

“Um thanks.” He looked at the pamphlet it had a map on it marking the destination from the terminal, obviously advertising for those arriving in Midgar for the first time.



Walking outside Zack followed the map to the location.



Arriving at the hotel it wasn't really the best looking thing, its green paint was chipped mixing with the faded dirty crème undercoat.

The neon lights hung on a loose sign that shook and trembled every time a car passed by underneath. The lights were flashing in a clashing bright pink. 'Promised Land'.

“Doesn't look very promising.” Zack mused to himself.

Walking up the steps and praying that the sign would not fall down and indeed send him to the promised land.



~*~*~*~



Falling to the bed, Zack was surprised they let him in, he only had to show them the ShinRa guest past and apparently he had their best room.

It consisted of a single bed, an on-suite, a kitchenette with a toaster and jug, a small lame bar fridge and a television

“All the trappings a teenager ever wanted.” Zack grumbled as he lay there.

Paper thin walls on either side where he could hear the couple next to him banging against the wall in their throws of passion and the other side a crying infant with parents screaming at each other.

“Welcome to Midgar...” Zack sighed closing his eyes. It would only be for a week that's what he'd told the guy at reception and he seemed to understand, another kid coming to Midgar to join the military and get rich and famous like the almighty Sephiroth.

Mentally blocking out the noises Zack decided he was going to try to get a decent night's sleep.



He would worry about finding cheap food later that would get him through the week.

Everybody had to start somewhere. There was only moving up from here on out.



Think positive.



That's what his mother had always said. He knew nothing else but to think positive, that motivation alone would hopefully get him through the week. He didn't even think about failing, he couldn't, that negative thought could cost him everything.



~*~*~*~



Everything in the city was so different than what he was used to. People not saying hello as they passed. Everybody treating him as a nobody, and shop assistants watching him like a hawk thinking he was going to rip them off.

It put a downer on his mood when he was asked for the fifteenth time that day.

“You gunna buy 'dat kid?”

He was just looking, he didn't have the money to buy 'dat'.

It was just curiosity he'd never seen the weird cat like thing with the waving paw before and he'd been fascinated.



People in the city were cold, people out this way were rude. Some of them not giving a care for the beggar above the plate. The poor man trying to make some extra cash to feed his family. If Zack wasn't so worried about surviving the week he would have helped. But the only gil he had on him was the gil he allocated to himself for food and travel for the day. He had separated the money evenly and hidden it in the room in the hopes that no one would try to rip him off when he was gone otherwise, he'd be joining that beggar kneeling and bowing at people's feet on the corner.

Zack was happy when the lady in front of him dropped a couple of gil into the man's cup. She smiled and nodded to the man, and he thanked her.

Zack felt bad walking past, but the man seemed thrilled with the extra two gil to even notice him. The man behind Zack wasn't so lucky.

“Spare change?”

“Get a job.” The man huffed rudely.

Zack wanted to tell him off, but what people did in the city were so different to those of the country. Zack wondered why the man didn't ask family for help for a couple of weeks, it made sense to him. But there could have been a million reasons. He didn't want to imagine what they could be, it would just destroy his image of the city folk even more.



Zack came to understand what that SOLDIER had said to him about it being dangerous at night. Just by walking past the ShinRa building at nine o' clock at night.

He could see them in the alleyways the Mako addicted junkies jacked up to the nines with tainted Mako in their systems.

Eyes glowing in menacing stares in between a mixture of a vivid cat green or blue. Just watching him as he passed. Like feral animals they watched. It made Zack wonder about the horror stories of teenagers being kidnapped. Kids manipulated and sold on the black market by junkies. Junked up assholes who wanted an extra gil for their next fix from their less than savory dealer.



It wasn't a very enthralling day trying to explore Midgar above the plate. He only got through one section and had to give up when he realized that the city folk weren't that nice to kids, assuming him to be homeless or a runaway.

Zack could see why the people of the city looked down as they walked. Avoid eye contact no one will notice you, no one will bother you.

City people seemed lonely he realized. Surrounded by people, but they made no effort to try and make contact with others.

Zack wouldn't have to worry about the depressing side of the city the next day, he was starting his tests inside the ShinRa building.



Zack stopped to look up at the building and he wondered if in there somewhere Sephiroth was. Doing whatever it was that the General did. Train? Drink tea? Shampoo then brush that long as hair.

Zack let out a breath and he was ready to go back to the hotel now. He would run into the General one day. Turning round he went to walk to the nearby burger joint to grab the last food he could afford for the day.



He stood outside the two places the Wutianese Take-away or the Gold Saucer themed burger joint. They had cheap one dollar cookies as part of a burger, chips and soda deal, as opposed to the fifteen gil take-away. Seven gil for a burger, fries, cookies and a soda or fifteen.

Zack walked into the burger joint to get his food.



The walk towards the hotel seemed tedious today for some reason, Zack sipped his soda. He stopped when he saw the flow of silver hair out of the corner of his eye. Zack looked to the bookstore and he saw through the window standing in the language section the back of the long silver hair. The general turned round looking back to the shelf slipping the book back on the shelf and he pulled down another book. It was another language book. The man seemed lost in thought looking through the book.



Zack could felt his heart thump hard against his chest. He was close to having a heart attack he knew it and he forced himself to turn away and he sipped at the soda, before steeling himself and turning round. He looked back to the General who was turned away from him, answering to someone.

Zack stopped seeing Sephiroth's eyes go flat and the General sighed, his expression read of irritation as he spoke to whomever was annoying him. The Zack saw the flap of the red leather as the figure hidden by the shelf turned round and seemed to vanish leaving the General alone.



Zack was sure he was flushing, he'd seen pictures of that man, his idol, the world's hero, but to see him so close and moving in the flesh he was at a lost.

There was no way he could ever compete to that man. He looked away again, he was fanboying he hated fanboying.

But he couldn't understand this weird reaction was there something in the Midgar water that made him want to ogle at SOLDIER men.



“Go home jerk it off Zack...” He told himself turning round he stopped looking in the window and he saw the pools of Mako green gaze in his direction. The General was looking at him, curiously

Zack swallowed and then he did the typical country boy thing to avoid being caught out for staring and perving.



He ran away and fast!





To Be Continued...