Joined to share my fanfiction and take requests like I've seen so many others on here doing from fanfiction.net, AO3, Wattpad and adultfanfiction. I am OBSESSED with final fantasy 7 and currently only take requests from that fandom ( since that's where all my knowledge and passion lies).
Having said that, I will write from any game inside the final fantasy 7 universe (crisis core, original, advent children, remake, and Dirge).
I do not write Yaoi or Yuri, boy/boy or girl/girl (so don't ask for sephiroth and cloud). Only Het girl/boy.
Part One || Part Two || Part Three || Part Four || Part Five || Part Six || Part Seven || Part Eight || Join Taglist
POV || 3rd Person Gender Neutral Tav (The Fox from The Fox and The Bear) x Halsin Silverbough
Scenario|| Elinna Inklynn is an orphan with an uncanny ability to mess up even the simplest of spells. It’s not her fault; she hasn’t ever had access to a proper teacher. But she has had access to books, and she’s read about a certain gentleman wizard in Waterdeep that may just be willing to help her.
She books passage on a ship from the Moonshae Islands and sails to Waterdeep, only to be rejected by Gale Dekarios. He doesn’t take on apprentices.
But their paths become inextricably intertwined when an enormous Nautiloid targets the City of Splendors.
Word Count || Just under 4,000 words
Warnings || Mentions of abuse and neglect. 18+ content, minors DNI. Mutual oral, teasing, size difference. Please let me know if I've neglected anything.
A/N || Hello, I return from the grave with prezzies. Many of you read my halsinxtav fic and now they are in Violet Thread of Fate officially! I have had a very chaotic four months, but things are beginning to stabilize, luckily. I will make a post shortly catching you all up on the everything!
Briar woke up to the feeling of feather soft kisses on the curve of their narrow shoulder.
They still weren’t used to this reality; one in which Halsin took every moment he could to indulge in them. But it was always a pleasant thing to wake up to.
A large, rough-hewn hand took the place of those kisses, smoothing a path down their arm. They felt pleasantly dwarfed by Halsin’s touch, their skin warming in a low intensity flush–as if Halsin carried the very essence of the sun in his fingertips.
A low burn in Briar’s belly joined that warmth as Halsin tangled his fingers with theirs and kissed up the curve of their neck.
His voice was a low rumble in Briars ear, hot breath making the back of their neck prickle.
“Are you awake, my heart?” he asked.
“Reluctantly…” Briar admitted, their lashes fluttering as they turned onto their back to look up at their lover.
He was there, propped up on his elbow and looking down at them. His hair was unbound and hanging around his face in gentle, undulating waves. Briar loved it when Halsin’s hair was down and wild. Loved it in a way they could scarcely admit until recently…until Halsin had finally told them that he’d wanted for them in the very same way they had wanted for him. Until that balmy afternoon when they’d kissed under the dappled shade of an oak tree. Until that kiss became deeper and more and…
“Perhaps there’s some way I could help you embrace the rising sun with a bit more enthusiasm?” He offered playfully.
“I will remind you that foxes are nocturnal creatures,” they responded.
“Mmn–as you remind me most mornings,” he teased. “I’m beginning to sense a theme.”
“I don’t like what you’re implying,” Briar said, feigning that it was a great affront to their honor.
Halsin’s smile took on a sharper, hungrier quality. He released Briar’s hand and smoothed it over their bare belly before scooping them into his arms and adjusting them onto their back. He leaned in closer until Briar could smell the gentle aromas of tobacco and pinewood coming off of his skin. “And just what am I implying, little fox?” he said.
That low burn intensified into something warmer than sunlight–something more akin to the hot smolder of a campfire.
“That I am misrepresenting my sleepiness in order to get something out of you…” Briar said, their voice dropping down nearly a full octave.
“And what do you have to get out of me, little fox?” he asked.
Briar shrank into the bedroll beneath them, feeling their face warm as they pressed their lips together.
Halsin tilted his head and let out a warm, mirthful laugh. “My heart,” he said. “After the many times we’ve indulged in each other’s bodies…you would think you would be more comfortable with telling me what you want. We don’t even sleep fully clothed most nights.”
Briar looked askance before lifting their thumbnail to their teeth and gnawing at it. Halsin lifted his hand to catch their wrist and pull their hand away. “You don’t need to avoid me, my love.”
Briar looked back up at Halsin and let out an exhale. “I know I don’t…” they said. “I suppose that I…I just…”
Halsin looked at them intently, ever patient as they worked out the finer points of what they were feeling. While he waited, he smoothed his hand through Briar’s wild tangle of hair, knowing how it soothed them.
As Briar closed their eyes and allowed themselves to calm, the thoughts started to come together a little easier; a little more clearly.
“It still doesn’t feel right…” they finally said. “To want things with you…to tell you that I want you. It still feels like you’ll wake up tomorrow and realize how ill suited I am for you.”
“Ill suited?” he asked. “You needn’t suit me. You’re not a tunic, or a piece of armor. You’re an individual–you’re entirely your own being and beautifully crafted by nature. If anything, I am lucky that you’ve taken such an interest in me.”
“I’m sure there are people at the grove who would disagree,” Briar said.
“And those people are not ones I wish to interact with–moreover, they aren’t me,” he insisted. “I’m here because I love you–not someone’s opinion of you. I’m not doing you a favor by choosing you as the one I share my bed and my life with–so long as you’ll have me.”
“I can’t even imagine a day where I wouldn’t have you,” Briar said.
“Well, then, we’re in agreement, aren’t we?” Halsin said, his smile gentle. “So, dear heart…what do you wish to get out of me? Tell me your desire. Whatever could you be leveraging these lazy mornings to get out of me?”
Briar’s chest started to rise and fall with a newly stoked want. They lifted a hand and brushed it gently over the strong line of Halsin’s jaw, smoothing their lithe fingers into his loose hair.
“I want you,” they said.
Halsin’s eyes went faintly hooded. “Tell me more,” he said. “Tell me how you want me. Tell me where.”
They let out a shuddering breath willing themselves to find the words inside of them. They were so used to going at whatever pace was set by their lovers. They were usually happy to simply be participating–to have even gotten an invitation to enjoy someone’s body in the most intimate way.
It was not something Halsin was willing to abide, however.
Despite little more than a tenday passing since Halsin and Briar had left the grove, they had enjoyed each other plenty of times in varying degrees of intensity, at various points of the day. They’d lovingly explored each other. Halsin was happy to take the lead at first, at least that was how it seemed to Briar. But for the past few days, he had encouraged them to be more vocal–more clear.
It was not at all what they were used to with a partner. And it was proving to be one of the more challenging things about their seedling union.
“I can’t…” they said, feeling sheepish as they always did.
“You can, my heart,” Halsin said tenderly. “And you will be rewarded for doing so. Tell me how I’m to enjoy your body today and I will happily oblige you.”
Briar swallowed dryly, feeling their flush spread to their pointed ears as they nodded.
Halsin wound one of Briar’s curls around his index finger as he waited patiently for their answer. Briar did their best not to collapse into themselves as they worked up the nerve to speak.
“I want to be…” they said, their voice quiet. “T-tasted by you…again.”
Halsin nodded, as if discussing what they should have for breakfast once they stumbled out of their tent together. “And what shall I taste, dear heart?” he asked.
“My chest,” they said breathlessly.
“I do so love to kiss you there,” Halsin agreed as he adjusted himself to lean over Briar, bracketing them between his large, strong arms.
Briar found themself distracted by the feeling of something stiff against the curve of their inner thigh. “Where else?” Halsin asked.
“M-my stomach,” they whispered–not because they were shy–but because they were losing command of the parts of their mind that enabled them to speak. Something far more primal–far more wild–was taking over.
“You spoil me,” Halsin cooed. “Is that where you wish for me to stop?”
Briar shook their head, almost panting now. “Lower,” they said. “I want you to taste me.”
Halsin let out an aroused breath of his own, the exhale pulling a low growl along with it. “You are providing me with a veritable feast,” he rumbled. “How lucky for me that it shall leave us both sated.”
Halsin closed the distance that still remained between the two of them and pressed a soft kiss to Briar’s parted lips. It was a gentle one–they always started gentle, Briar had learned. Their lower lip was captured between halsin’s. Briar brushed the tip of their tong against the edge of Halsin’s upper lip, and Halsin renewed the kiss again, rolling his insistent tongue into their mouth.
Briar’s voice sounded–trilling and reedy. They set their hands on Halsin’s shoulders and smoothed them over the curving musculature of his arms. Their thumb brushed over the prominent vein on the inside of his bicep–a little detail they’d often fixated on back before they’d known Halsin desired them in the same way.
Briar seized his lower lip between their teeth and suckled on the supple curve of it, drawing a delightful growl from the archdruid. Halsin’s hands smoothed pleasantly heavy paths over Briar’s sides, his palms digging into the softer planes of their body, his thumbs gently pressing against the crests of their hip bones.
Briar let out a soft, melodic sound as they exhaled through their nose, long lashes fluttering as they surrendered once again to the intoxicating feeling of being touched by Halsin. Each time they made love it was like being touched for the first time for Brair. Each time was just as thrilling as the first time.
Halsin parted from the kiss and brushed the tip of his nose against Briar’s, smiling contentedly before continuing. He kissed the gentle curve of Briars cheek, the point where their neck met the elegant column of their neck, the hollow of their collar bone, the sloping curve of their chest.
Briar let out a soft breath, the heat in their stomach starting to spread in a tingling ripple through their body. That heat traveled to the tips of their toes, the ends of their fingers, the shell of their ears. Their freckled skin donned a rosy, bronze flush across their shoulders; their cheeks. That same heat caused their slackened lips to swell and made the soft mounds of their nipples blissfully sensitive as Halsin captured one of them between his lips.
Briar inhaled sharply as that gentle sensation came to a sharpened crescendo when Halsin gently caught the hardening bud between his teeth.
They combed their fingers through Halsin’s loose hair, gathering some of it in their hand as they looked at him with hooded eyes. Halsin met that gaze, his own eyes full of tantalizing promise as he parted from Briar’s chest.
“You set my skin ablaze when you look at me like that, my heart,” he said as he moved to the so-far-neglected nipple and kissed it noisily. “It makes me want to devour you.”
Briar let out a soft breath, watching intently as Halsin did a slow, lazy roll of his tongue over their nipple. “Perhaps I want to be devoured,” they said breathlessly.
Halsin only smiled and planted another noisy kiss at the tip of their sternum. To the soft slope of their belly…the mound of their pelvis… the sensitive skin of their inner thigh. Each one bringing him further and further down Briar’s body and closest to the most sacred of places.
“My own private altar of worship,” Halsin said, his voice the powerful rumble of a rockslide; the suffocating thrill of an avalanche. “How blessed I am to be allowed here, to look upon you in all of the beauty you are.”
Briar felt the gust of Halsin’s warm breath against their swollen arousal. The anticipation of what would come next was enough to make their lithe body arch and squirm; the heat in their stomach becoming the rush of a leap from atop a great summit.
Halsin’s large hands smoothed from their backside to the back of each of Briar’s knees. His touch was gentle, yet insistent as he hooked each knee over his broad shoulders.
A little sound escaped Briar’s lips involuntarily; something somewhere between a moan and a whimper–a sound of distress and a sound of need.
“Patience, lover,” Halsin said, his tongue sounding wet in the well of his mouth. “I wish to savor you as only I might.”
But Briar didn’t have patience–they didn’t want to wait any longer. They wanted to feel Halsin’s mouth upon them–feel what it was to be devoured by him. It was a little death they wanted to experience again and again.
Briar smoothed both of their hands back into Halsin’s hair, balling their slender fingers just above his pointed ears. They looked down to see Halsin staring up at them–the look in his eyes equal parts warning and indulgence.
“Please,” Briar whispered, soft as a prayer.
Halsin gave a gravelly chuckle as he lowered his mouth to them and closed his mouth around the center of Briar’s focus.
Briar let out a sweet sound of relief as they rolled their hips against Halsin’s soft lips. Their thighs squeezed tighter around Halsin’s head, already feeling overstimulated as Halsin’s tongue stroked them in slow, practiced paths. Halsin let out a satiated noise, the sound vibrating through their center.
It was easy to enjoy Halsin’s attention–after all, he was more than practiced after three centuries of life. Still, Briar was eager–perhaps too much so–too ready to reach a climax as soon as the experience started. As they rolled their hips into Halsin’s mouth again, the druid placed one firm hand on the flat plane of their pelvis and pressed down with gentle strength, grounding the smaller elf and enforcing the leisurely pace he so enjoyed.
He tasted them deeply; slowly, from base to agonizingly sensitive tip, lingering to suckle as his eyes closed in his own ecstasy.
Briar tried to buck like a wild horse, but Halsin’s hand remained an ever-present anchor.
“Halsin,” Briar begged. “Please, I want more…”
With his free hand, he reached up to dip the tip of his middle finger into Briar’s mouth, collecting moisture from the pool of saliva gathered beneath their tongue. Briar closed their lips around the digit, suckling at it once, twice. Then they grasped his wrist and pulled the hand far enough away to kiss the fingertip.
“Not that,” they said, knowing full well how he planned to use that prepped finger. Halsin always prioritized their pleasure when they shared these intimate moments together. There were times Briar allowed it–and there were times Briar found their own pleasure in giving Halsin his. “I want to taste you too,” they clarified.
Halsin freed his preoccupied tongue to look up at them, his eyes dark with primal hunger. “Are you sure, my heart?” he asked. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself–it’s already overwhelming enough to taste the promise of your pleasure on my tongue.”
“I’m sure,” they said.
His brows dipped slightly. “I may become rougher with you than I intend to.”
Briar’s heart raced and they swallowed as their mouth became dry at the thought of it.
As much as Briar loved that Halsin was such a gentle giant, they couldn’t help but thrill at the idea of the chase–at the idea of such primal, carnal enjoyment. The idea of Halsin losing his control because of them….well it was almost enough to render them into a puddle.
“I think I’ll like that,” Briar admitted in a timid whisper.
Halsin’s brow lifted and his head cocked back in surprise. “Is that right?” he said with a sharpened smile.
Halsin scooped his arms under Briar, supporting their back and lifting them up with ease. Briar yelped, fingers tangling even tighter into Halsin’s hair as he unceremoniously rearranged their bodies to a more comfortable position–a position more conducive to…mutual feasting.
Halsin chuckled before pressing a wet kiss to Briar’s aching arousal. It was everything they could do to stop themselves from crumbling in Halsin’s arms.
“I would never drop you, my heart,” he said, lips still brushing distractingly against the tender skin.
He continued to cradle them as he laid himself down, letting his back hit the grassy ground in a soft thud as he helped Briar recalibrate themselves.
Halsin was so tall that it took some adjusting. For a moment, Briar wasn’t sure they would be able to taste the swollen length of Halsin’s erection–even with its more than generous size. But once again, Halsin’s many years of experience came into play. He adjusted the height and placement of Briar’s hips in such a way that, when they pressed together, belly-to-belly, Briar had perfect access to Halsin’s magnificent cock.
They salivated as they grasped his girth in their hand. His cock twitched faintly and Halsin let out a startled sound against Briar. Briar felt the faint mischievous curl of their own lips, pleased to hear him react to them.
There was a brief moment where they relished the thought of rendering Halsin into a whimpering mess–a moment where the idea of conquering a man like Halsin in mind, body and spirit felt like the tantalizing promise of a good hunt; a good chase.
But all thoughts, all ideas of scrappy dominance, eddied out of their mind when Halsin swirled his tongue against the sensitive opening of their backside. Briar’s hand tightened around Halsin as their whole body when feverish and alert, their thighs tense where they bracketed Halsin against the ground.
It took them a moment to find the will to think and move again. Halsin was devouring them like it was the first meal he’d had in days. But finally, Briar’s own hunger took over the buoyant sensation in their body. They hummed as they took Halsin into their mouth, tasting the sweet nectar that had already started to collect at the tip.
Briar’s long lashes fluttered as they started to slowly take more and more of Halsin within their mouth. At the same time, Halsin started to gently stroke between Briar’s legs, adding a new wave of pleasure to the already pleasant heat; the feeling of being filled by the one they loved.
Briar intensified the suction around Halsin, eagerly fitting as much of him in their mouth as they could.
It was when the tip of Halsin’s cock brushed against the tender opening at the back of their throat that things changed.
A hungry growl came from Halsin’s mouth. He sounded more beast than man in that moment–then he put his free hand on the back of Briar’s head and thrusted the whole of his length into the poor fox’s mouth, curving into the opening of their throat as they choked around it.
As Halsin retreated, tears gathered at the corners of Briar’s eyes as they gasped in through their nose. They were not tears of distress, though; no, a pleasant lightness took over them as Halsin’s hand roughly curled into their hair, holding them still as he did another unrelenting thrust into their throat.
Gods, this was heaven–to have Halsin lose control–to feel the wild nature of him in such a visceral, connected way. It was pure bliss.
Briar forgot about their own stimulation, settling their body fully down on Halsin’s as he tangled his other hand in their hair.
The pace quickened; Halsin making love to Briar’s mouth the same way he made love to the rest of them every time they indulged in each other’s body: with tender devotion and enraptured abandon.
“Your mouth–My heart–gods it feels as if it were made for me,” Halsin grunted with some effort. “And seeing you get your pleasure from giving me mine–to feel you hot and wet against my skin…it’s maddening…”
Briar heaved out a dreamy sigh as Halsin inserted himself into their mouth again, all the way to the hilt. And despite the fact that Halsin had stopped his direct stimulation of Briar’s body, they felt the impending crash of their climax heading for them like a storm about to make landfall.
That spring coiled tighter and tighter every time Briar felt the intoxicating sensation of Halsin’s cock in their throat.
Halsin’s breaths started to come out as shudders.
“My heart…” he said in a tremulous voice. “Gods, Briar–you’re a wonder–I’m–”
Halsin snarled and turned his head, biting onto Briar’s inner thigh as he did two thrusts in quick succession. The pain mixed with the pleasure of Halsin’s generous words and the way he so adoringly made love to their mouth was enough to send Briar over the edge.
They whimpered as they came even as they remained untouched by Halsin, their pleasure dripping out of them as Halsin did one final press up and into their mouth, spilling his own seed into the back of their throat as he gasped and panted.
He thrust twice more, wringing the last bits of pleasure out of himself before retreating fully out of Briar’s mouth.
As soon as he did, he gathered the smaller elf into his arms, cradling them close and nuzzling into the hollow of their neck; kissing the soft part of their throat like it was an ache he could heal that way. Those same hands that had just been tangled in Briar’s hair, now smoothed that hair away from their face before cupping their cheek in his hand.
“Forgive me, dear one–I fear I neglected you in my own distraction,” he cooed, his voice thick and sweet as honey. “Are you alright?”
“I’m perfect,” Briar sighed, smiling dreamily.
Halsin chuckled and nuzzled his nose against theirs. “You’re right,” he said sweetly. “You are. In every way.”
Briar felt the warmth of love fill their heart to the brim, as they always did after a roll in the grass with Halsin. He was such a giving lover and it was so easy to get as lost in his body as he got lost in Briar’s own. It was impossible not to feel the glow of love.
“We should get a bath,” Halsin said. “And perhaps some breakfast.”
“I’m already quite full, thank you,” Briar said sleepily. “And I like being a mess because of you.”
Halsin gave Briar a cheeky smile and gently pinched their nose between his thumb and forefinger. “I feel the same, my heart,” he said. “But as we near the coast, it’s getting more and more likely that we will encounter others on the path, and I don’t want to share this vision of you with anyone else…unless you have a desire to, of course.”
Briar sighed and nodded. “I suppose I dont,” they said. “I think there was a lake not far from here. A bit north of the old castle–the one with those stuffy librarians.”
“The Scribe’s Perch, it’s called,” Halsin said helpfully. “And I believe you’re right–a hot spring is over there.”
“Ah–it’s been too long since I’ve soaked in a hot spring,” Briar said. “Let’s go right now.”
Halsin chuckled and nodded. “Alright.”
The two druids got themselves up and did themselves the courtesy of at least wiping down with a bit of water from their waterskins before dressing in their leathers. Briar helped Halsin fasten the leather straps around his biceps and Halsin saw to re-lacing Briar’s hastily removed boots.
They packed up their tent and their supplies and started making their way south, the promise of a warm soak enough to keep Briar’s mood fairly light and buoyant.
At least, that was until they got a few minutes into their travels and heard the cry of a worried, panicked man somewhere ahead on the rocky paths of the forests.
“Elinna?!” The voice called, sounding very clearly distressed. “Elinna! Where are you?”
Briar looked up at Halsin and found a familiar expression there. It was one of worry on behalf of another. Briar knew Halsin well enough at this point that he was never one to look the other way when someone was in distress–unless it was a goblin, of course.
Halsin looked down at them and Briar gave him an encouraging nod. “Let’s go help,” Briar said. “It sounds like someone may be lost.”
What do I do at 3am when I'm supposed to be sleeping?
Think about Gale dying. Naturally.
Four Letter Words
Her hands won’t stop shaking.
She watches Withers work. Bony fingers weaving nothing out of something between the ruin of Gale’s chest and the pale tether of his soul.
A strange word. Soul. She turns it over. So tiny. So much weight. Funny how the smallest words mean the most.
Soul.
Love.
Gale.
Cold.
Dead.
Don’t—
Eyes jam shut. Don’t think about that.
Someone will have to tell his mother. Does he have a mother? Stupid question—everyone does.
Not everyone—hers is dead. Perhaps they’ll meet. Mother and Gale.
Stop.
His mother. Yes. He mentioned her once. Also his cat. Oh, Gods… someone will have to tell his cat. What would you even say to a cat?
Fire pops. Wood collapses in on itself. Sparks crawl away like beetles. She feels the same. Hollowed. Falling in.
Don’t look at his face. Whatever you do—
She looks.
—don't.
His eyes are open. Staring. Not at her. Not at anything. Not anymore.
Withers.
Please.
There was so much blood. Hot. Sticky between her fingers. The thud-thud-thud of his heart pumping it out of him; her palms pressing down, trying to keep it in. She wanted to scream—
STOP.
And then it did.
She can still feel it. Still smell it—iron and salt. Under her nails. In the heartlines. Splashed across his mouth.
Stop. Looking.
So tired. She could lie down beside him and not move again. Not until she’s a scatter of bones, collapsing into a scurry of beetles.
Someone will have to tell his cat.
His cat.
His cat.
The air shifts.
Gasps.
The body jerks upright. Arms flail. Chest heaves. She can’t see inside it anymore. Good. That’s good. Isn’t it?
His eyes find her. See her.
She runs.
Not to him. Away.
Runs until her legs give out. Until earth becomes water. The stream. She falls. Cold bites in.
Sobs tear loose without warning. Rip out of her chest like a volley of arrows. Like the one that killed him. Rib-shattering, heart-rending, soul-tearing sobs. She folds in on herself, arms locked around her ribs, trying to hold it all in. She can’t—no more than she could hold back the blood.
Sooo... The prompt is simple and SFW (for now 😈): what would be Sephiroth, Genesis and Vincent's reaction to accidentally listen Reader confess about her feelings to someone else?
I mean, the whole accidental eavesdropping because their enhanced abilities.
Feel free to write it as short sentences/drabbles or headcannons.
See ya.
😘😘
Who Lies Beneath First Class
“Genesis Rhapsodos”
You stared at Reno with the most stoic, determined face you could muster and mentally fought your hand from crossing your fingers behind your own back. The cafeteria was extremely loud today, so you knew no one else heard your conversation…or your horrid attempt at a fib.
“Genesis…First class Genesis is taking you to the Annual Shinra Gala?”
The question asked was put forth as more of a statement but a question none the less. Reno had just asked you to attend the ball with him and with no other name on your mind but the one that had been occupying it since you spotted him walking down the hall hot off of an important mission earlier that day; you had no choice but to use his name in your lie. “Yep. It’s true. He asked me….today.”
“Today?”
“Yep.”
“Like…in the last two hours? Because he has only been back at headquarters since 11:00 this morning.”
“…I guess he was really excited…to ask me…”
“….”
He knew you were lying. Who were you kidding? Reno was a Turk, for heaven sakes. He knew how to tell when someone was lying, it was his job. Of course he knew. Yet, you continued in your defiance, pride fully lifting your chin in an act of rebellion and strength. You were about to add more to the NOT thought-out lie when an arm draped around your shoulders. You had been standing with your back facing the wall of the lunchroom, so you knew no one could have been near enough for you to not notice them sooner, let alone hear the conversation. Yet, when you looked to your left to see who the culprit was, you almost hit the floor. Rhapsodos smirked at Reno as he leaned into his casual embrace, almost as if he had done it a million times before.
“Reno…why are you talking to my date?”
“….”
You don’t know who was gaping more openly, Reno or You. He casually looked to his right as if he was now ignoring Reno, and looked fully into your face, causing you to gulp loudly. “My dear, no honor remains. I am terribly sorry to keep you waiting. Please forgive me so that I may still accompany you to the gala.”
You had no idea what to say. What the hell was happening? He couldn’t have heard our conversation, he was nowhere around. Alas, he was here taking full responsibility of the pretend proposal for the following weekend as if it had been planned all along. It had never truly happened…Had it? Am I finally losing my mind? Your thoughts were interrupted with Reno’s apology as he turned and walked away almost embarrassed, a huge break from character for the mighty flirt. Reno had finally met his match.
“You are welcome…”, Genesis whispered in your ear, causing you to jump suddenly and avoid eye contact so that you could at least speak to your noble hero. “Sorry…I…ummm, I guess I just said the first name that entered my mind…” You tried not to squirm as he dropped his arm and fully faced you, melting you under his heated gaze. “Mmmm…first name huh? So tell me, little liar, why are you lying to Mr. Sinclair? Most importantly, why was my name the first you thought of?” The soldier first class was leaving no room for excuses and you had no idea how to escape this awkward situation. “I…saw you come back from Wutai this morning. I guess I just…”
You left the sentence hanging in the air heavily, hoping it would be forgotten as you shrugged your shoulders and mumbled another ‘sorry’ under your breath. You weren’t getting anywhere with this one. “That doesn’t answer my question. Pride is lost. Wings stripped away, the end is nigh… You might as well confess, guilty one. You are not getting away with your lies this time.”
…..
You wanted to die, right there in the middle of the cafeteria. You could not tell him… that you had always found the confident red head handsome since you became employed inside Shinra. The way he stared at you made you feel as if he could read all your insecurities like a book, taking glimpses of the entirety of your soul and deepest thoughts…and desires.
You physically shook your head and looked down as you confessed…some of your feelings. “I guess I was wishing in the moment…that you were asking me instead of Reno…so I made the whole thing up? In an attempt to avoid his…request. I don’t want to go to the Gala at all but if I had to I…would rather pretend…”
“…That you are going with me? Instead of actually going with Reno?” His loud laugh filled the lunchroom and a few soldiers nearby turned in silence, mid-sentence to see what the commotion was about. “Please, people will hear us!”
“My dear, no one has hearing like mine in this room…well, except for the other firsts and they heard the whole thing already anyhow, as well as the lie itself.”
Hearing like… wait, what??!!
You took a glance at the table hosting the two other firsts and loyal side kick. They gently waved simultaneously, eyes glued to your wide eyed form and attempting to remain expressionless. NOW you really wanted to die…. You dropped your red face to your hands in a groan. A small pat was felt upon your shoulder before he casually strolled away with one more added comment.
“Be ready by 5.”
At that you shot up, gaping once again at his retreating form. He was no longer looking at you so you knew you could gape as much as you liked. Was he actually going to follow through and take you to the gala? That horrid event. The one everyone truly dreaded except for the secretaries who always had arm candy hanging from their clown faces and decorated forms. For janitors, such as yourself, it was an agonizing few hours of being reminded how terribly underpaid, overworked, and unimportant they really were. But this time? You were truly going to be going with a SOLDIER. And not just any SOLDIER…but first class, Genesis Rhapsodos? It couldn’t be…but he said be ready. Would he call and cancel? Turn back and say he was only joking and don’t read into things so much? But…he never did. He only sat down with his friends and began talking as if the whole thing never happened.
Sephiroth watched from the table, more aware than the other two seemed to be. He had never noticed you before that moment, but the light blush and anxious chew on the lip was almost mesmerizing and he found that he could barely look away. Genesis…was he really going to follow through with his plan at saving you from the Turk? He had never truly cared about a woman enough to follow through with anything he promised…except for the occasional nightly embraces, so why would he now? The girl looked as if she would fall over from shock and when Genesis finally made his way back over to the lunch table, Sephiroth found himself somewhat angry with his friend. He would stand her up…he knew it. He wouldn’t take her to the Gala and it seemed as if Angeal was thinking the same thing.
“Genesis…are you really going to take that girl to the Gala? Didn’t you promise someone else?”
“I don’t recall…I think I have mentioned my accompaniment to many women before today.”
Angeal sighed deeply and shook his head. “So you do not plan on taking her then.”
“I do not know. I may…and then I may not.”
Sephiroth’s eyes left Genesis’s prideful form to rest upon you. Your hair was pulled into a ponytail and you had on the typical janitor outfit, nothing fancy to gaze on at all…but those eyes. They held certain brightness to them that most women didn’t have around Shinra. Most were dull and just working to get through the day. Yours however was radiant, like a drip of caramel atop a vanilla ice cream cone, oozing with sweetness and promise. You stood there dumbfounded before casually strolling away, a little bit of excitement to your step and Sephiroth felt a pang of unfamiliar pity direct itself across the room to see you out. He couldn’t sit there any longer with Genesis’s smug smile and confident air and as Sephiroth jumped out of his seat and strolled out of the cafeteria, he barely heard his friends questioning his actions behind him. He had to return to his office and get his mind off of the situation.
As the week went on and Sephiroth grew closer and closer to the weekend, he found that he had barely stopped thinking about your gentle features and how disappointed you would be when 5 rolled around on Saturday, no Genesis in sight.
````````````````````
5:19 p.m.
You looked at your watch for the fortieth time and sighed. You had a feeling…it was too good to be true that a member of SOLDIER would accompany you, and here you had spent all your gil on the fanciest dress you could find. You were gonna be someone different tonight. You were gonna be classy and sophisticated. You were gonna be…stood up. Yes that was right, of course you were to be stood up. You knew that Genesis had promised another prior because you had overhead some loud mouth announcing it to the break room. Still, you had thought that maybe…just maybe it was your luck that he had broken off that previous engagement. That maybe you were the only woman he had thought of all day. What a simpleton…
Hot tears fell across your face at your own stupidity. To be let down was one thing you could handle. You handled disappointment particularly well, but to believe he would show? What a moron. To be such a naïve fool….That was something you simply couldn’t handle.
To your horror, the doorbell rang and you gasped. Dear heavens he has shown, and you were standing inside your kitchen balling like an idiot. You frantically rubbed the moisture out of your eyes before closing them in an act to compose yourself before throwing the door open wide. Your breath hitched in your throat. There…standing on your front step….dressed in a black tux with hair organized neatly behind his head in a long, low ponytail…was none other than The General himself with a stoic expression painted evenly across his face.
…
Why the hell is SEPHIROTH on my doorstep??!
…
You both stared at one another for approximately three seconds before he broke the silence.
“Good evening.”
….
“Hi…I’m sorry, why are you here?”
Sephiroth took a deep breath in and you wanted to punch yourself in the face at asking something so rude before inviting the handsome man in. “I’m so sorry, please come in…”
You once again opened the door a little wider and allowed him to step inside your tiny apartment. His large form taking up your foyer was almost comical and again, you felt that a long stretch of silence had stretched on before you once again opened your mouth to speak.
“General, what can I help you with? Are you looking for something?”
Maybe he had got lost trying to find his dates house. Wait…did that happen to someone like Sephiroth? Did THE Sephiroth ever lose his way? Surely not….
“Are you trying to find someone?”
“Yes…actually, I was looking for you?”
“Me?!!! Why Me…?”
“I…was wondering….would you like to accompany me tonight…to the Gala.”
…
His question seemed almost clumsy and coming from HIM of all people, you found the situation once again comical. Yet, you were flabbergasted and this had left your feet and face motionless in such a state. The question in his deep, silky voice had you even more at a standstill and you had to mentally remind yourself to keep breathing and answer the gentleman.
“Oh…I…hadn’t really planned on going…now.”
The statement seemed like a rejection and you raced to correct yourself.
“I mean I would love to go with you! I just…well I wasn’t expecting you to be here…right now…and how did you know where I live? Wait…why are you here? I mean…why are you asking me to go with you to the Gala? Did…anyone ask you to? I…just don’t understand why you want to. Do you really want to?”
To your absolute humiliation, you were unable to keep the words pouring out of your mouth, and the small smirk and deep chuckle coming from the man in question was the only shocking thing that could prevent further questions from disembarking. How could such a simple action seem so foreign on his features; such a simple thing so beautiful and elegant? Truthfully, you had always found the man captivating and if you were being totally honest with yourself, you would have said his name aloud any other day…if it hadn’t been for that damn red head’s face entering your mind as he strolled down the hall in his retreat from Wutai. The fates are truly cruel.
Sephiroth then looked up and it only marked your face in red further to see his slight smile. “Yes…I believe I do.”
The Gala was uneventful. As usual, the most interesting thing was the people instead the party itself. At least the food was exceptional and you found yourself enjoying the wine more than usual in your anxious state. Your hands shook, but a little less with wine as your eyes darted around the room. You were so out of your comfort zone. These were definitely not your people. Most janitors avoided this night like the plague. You had every year except your first when you thought everyone attended, but to your utter embarrassment, only the higher ups, SOLDIER, and their assistants went. You must’ve left after only ten minutes that year.
“Stop panicking…and give me that, how many does that make? I will not have my date intoxicated beyond her ability tonight.”
Sephiroth’s words were sharp but his hand was delicate as he gently removed the glass from your firm grasp. You squeezed your hand tightly twice before lowering. “Sorry…I get really nervous at these types of…things. I don’t really fit in….” Just then, Genesis’ date traipsed coyly by the table as if on cue. “…and it is painstakingly obvious.”
“Hmph…that is ridiculous. If you didn’t ‘fit in’ as you say, then you would not be here. Nonetheless, I would not have brought you here…with me, especially.”
The sentence was more of a reprimand then a compliment and you found yourself puzzled on how to actually respond. You didn’t have to, for the female who had passed only seconds before was now coming straight for your table with Genesis by her side.
“Sephiroth…I can’t believe you actually came this year…and with a da-” The sentence hung midflight in the space between you as he stared at your uneasy form. Realization hit him and he stood straighter. “….Oh…I did not recognize you for a moment. I see you didn’t need my interference after all.” You tightened your grip on your knee and decided to ignore the situation and pretend it never happened with a smile. “How are you Genesis? Rebekah, you look beautiful.” The question and statement was ignored as he pressed on, this time taking in Sephiroth’s features. “I guess you couldn’t help yourself but to step in and be the hero once again, could you? It is your nature. Tho I have to admit, I can’t believe you decided you come to the Gala no less, with a…janitor, isn’t it? Yes…a janitor.” This time he looked back at you and you wanted to melt to liquid and evaporate right there from your chair as the two men fumed for unknown reasons to you. Surely they were not really upset over this situation alone…were they? No…surely not…
“Genesis…carefully choose your words…”
Sephiroth’s voice had dropped two octaves, a sound that made you tremble, but Genesis barely seemed to notice still deeply absorbed in his leading role as “Jaded Lover”. “Tell me, janitor, why is everyone so enamored with you so suddenly? I mean, how long have you been at Shinra? I know I’ve seen you around for what…four? Five years? Do tell me, how did you possibly happen to land in the Great General’s sights this evening?”
You opened your mouth to speak although your body language was practically screaming that you wanted to hide. However, you didn’t get to do either. Your date’s hand covered your own and Sephiroth leaned forward in finality, bringing victory to your table at ending the conversation. “I believe that is our business. Now if you will excuse us, we have somewhere else we must be.” You were brought to standing and you quickly nodded “farewell” as you were pulled out of the ballroom and into the cold, night air.
…
Sephiroth pulled you along, one hand in pocket, and you silently wanted to die. You hated when people felt sorry for you and right now, that is how you felt. Sephiroth brought you along because Genesis stood you up. And now, he had been embarrassed by the asshole and angered making him leave altogether. You had barely showed off your new dress.
Tears fell from your eyes and one fell from your face and hit the pavement. The general stopped in his tracks, and tilted his head slightly in your direction. “Please…do not do that.” Oh yes, now you really wanted to die. Sephiroth bringing you to the gala was one thing but now he was witnessing your tears. You wanted to cease existing altogether. “I...I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have come tonight and I made you and Genesis fight…and now your angry and…I’m just so sorry.”
….
Sephiroth must not have expected that for he was now turned fully towards you with a confused face, something else to find equally comical and suprising. “You are a strange girl. Why would you think that you have been given the right to apologize for something so absurd?” You blinked hard. “I…I am the cause of your fight…you are upset…”
“Hmmm…Genesis and I always end up in a fight. He can’t stand to lose and I never lose. It is inevitable. But what I do not understand is how you believe that you have somehow done something wrong. Or that you did not belong here tonight with me. Tell me…Are you always this self-unrighteous?” You found yourself blinking hard again. Alone, outside of the Shinra tower, you and Sephiroth only stared before he came closer to you with a smirk on his face and eyebrow raised. “You cannot answer that, then tell me this…How can someone so beautiful find themselves so undeserving? So unworthy? Is it simply an act or just your characterization?”
….Beautiful?
You never considered yourself beautiful. You had many admirers and boys had hinted at asking you to accompany them before, but no one really followed through. No one captured your interest and you never truly captured anyone else’s but…for THE SEPHIROTH to call you beautiful? That was something that had never even come close to happening to you before.
He came even closer to your frozen form before whispering and your breathing stopped altogether. “Tell me…should I accompany you home tonight? Or should I invite you to my apartment? Would you even come, considering you find yourself so very much beneath me? Or does that simply mean that I must take control and tell you that you are, in fact, coming home with me tonight?”
…..
How do you even answer something like that? Did he even want you to answer?
You swallowed hard and continued to stare at him, eyes glued to his mouth in surprise.
“Well? How do you plead?”
You thought for a moment. This was it. One of those moments. A moment that you will never get back that could have dire consequences or cause a lifetime of ‘what ifs’ and regret. So for once in your life, you said the thing that was on your mind.
“I guess you could show me what it truly means to be... ‘beneath you”, General.”
And once again, Sephiroth smiled.
`````````THE END```````````
Tell me if you think it needs more or if the last ending line is corny and needs to be changed.
