Write;

A plethora of muses belong to this blog. Private/Semi-Selective. Will only plot.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

@thexlock from an ask

She was pretty pissed off. He saw the tension in her jaw that pulled through her shoulders. If he hadn't known any better he could have sworn he saw fire in her eyes. He was out of the loop, freshly hung out to dry after a rather successful mission. Had he known he was going to get thrown between a bull and a matador he would have gladly kept his pauldrons on.

“Babe, I just got back... can't this wait?” he held a hand out for her.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

@sweetestsniper continued from an ask

“Sorry?” Cloud's thumbs ran gently across tear stained cheeks, picking up the droplets from those beautiful blue eyes. He could get lost in those eyes forever if he truly wanted. He didn't know if she knew how pretty she was. Not that he'd ever have the courage to tell her that. Right now he'd be a good friend. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Anna... You're the one crying, remember?”

[churchyflower]

sempiternalvoice replied to your post: “[sempiternalvoices; Cloud] You want to cause suffering? Maybe Cloud…”:

{{Cloud}} He finishes a shot before following her, barely managing to swoop in and catch her, “Fuck– Aerith?!”

Her vision is blurred. Throw up, she should throw up. Cloud catches her but she bends over his arm to throw up. It doesn’t feel better it feels worse. “C-Cloud.” her voice is raspy and she wants the world to stop spinning. It feels like she’s dying, “M-Make it stop-p.”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

The blonde swears, it's quiet and incoherent. He pulled the silk locks out of her way as she emptied the contents of her stomach. He was convinced that it would end whatever fit had gone over her. Maybe she just drank to much. He didn't think he had pushed her that hard. He honestly had just wanted Aerith to loosen up a little. She seemed really tense lately, he rubbed her back. Doing his best to awkwardly calm the hurling Cetra.

His face twisted in confusion as she begged him to make it stop. He looked down at her, brushing back her bangs.

“Aerith, tell me what's wrong...”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

The nights seemed so much longer in their absence. The Cetra had been spoiled by the love of two beings. Two hearts whose sole purpose was to poetically beat for her. Warm, dry Midgar nights seemed to drag in their own languid fashion. The days pawed at the ache and eternity their absence left. She was poisoned. Their presence a temporary cure. In their wake of mako they left a flower to fend in barren land and tainted soil. How did they expert her to survive in such a hostile place was beyond her. She knew that their absence, despite being together, was a hell hole of uncertainty. A brush with death so tender only the dead knew of it's kiss.

But days led to weeks, weeks to months. The flower spent her nights on a couch, ding her best to rise with the sun yet fall no sooner than when it peaked from the horizon. Sleep was a luxury for those who found comfort in empty beds. She found herself beginning to lose control of waiting up as the deprivation gnawed at her mind. Even as she began to fear their lack of communication. Her poisoned veins became toxic to her well being, slowly making the flower wilt. She slept on that couch from sun rise to sun set, no longer rising at all. Her only moments of consciousness were to check the lock on the door, to make a meal that was wasted on a closed mouth.

The SOLDIERs had no idea what their absence had bred. Even the creaking of the door didn't stir the flower from her hyphenating slumber. At first, gentle looks of affection crossed dirt and blond painted cheeks. But twisted when the left meals were drawn to attention. When the flowers in the window box drooped sadly and the soil looked dry. The room smelled stale and vacant. There were no stronger scents that the SOLDIERs could pick out. No decay or rot. However the woman's lack of movement drew worry.

Zack was first to the woman's side. Worried looks plastered dirty faces, a gloved hand raked through unbrushed auburn locks.

“Aerith--!” he breathed loudly, panic settling in a barreled chest. Give him war, give him death, but don't take her from him. He cupped her face, tilting her head to check her pulse. Sephiroth stood, rooted in the spot, she was breathing but it was shallow. His posture tense. Almost instantly, like a flower turning to the sun, Aerith stirred in Zack's palm. She nuzzled into the smell of hard work and war. Eyes lidded and fresh with sleep.  Her eyes opened wider, flickering between Sephiroth and Zack. She sat up, smile finding it's features as the flower rose from her wilt.

“You're... back.” she hummed, eyes looking less tired the more she absorbed their presence.

“You scared us half to death.” Zack breathed into her neck. Sephiroth kneeling beside Zack to run fingers through her soft hair.

“Oh...” she, in her state, had not realized the catastrophic way the room presented itself. She shook her head, “I'm sorry, I--” she looked away from both of them both, “I got so distracted...” Neither believed it. It was obvious in the shared expression. Aerith had been known to clean on their shorter absences. The apartment had been spotless the last time they returned. This was a disaster zone. The flowers were drooping, that was a key indicator to Aerith's distress at their long leave. “You're filfthy...” she brushed pristine figners over their cheeks. Dirt and blood hid their true colors, but as she wiped her thumb across sharp cheeks it cleared a window for skin.

“WE came straight from debriefing.” Sephiroth turned his head in her soft palm to place a soft kiss on her love line. The color was returning to the wilted flower. The more her sun and moon stood by her.

“Are you hungry?” She asked, eyes fond, heart feather light.

“Tired,” Zack exhaled, a hand already pawing at her curved waist.

“Hmph, agreed.” Sephiroth seemed relaxed in the presence of the two. Slowly sloughing off the General's skin. His head came down to rest in the Cetra's lap, long silver locks cascading over her thighs like water.

“You should have a bath before you go to bed.” she mothred, a hand pulling back those dirt stained strands. Zack made a noise, nuzzling into the General's hair. “Come on.” she expressed, feeling more energized than she had in the past few nights of solitude. “I'll start the bath for you, okay?”

“Aer~” Zack whined, clutching her dress.

“None of that. Bath first.” she pried willing SOLDIER fingers from pastel fabric. She bloomed as she stood. No longer slave to the toxin in her system, no fear, no darkness in her heart. She glided to the master bath, starting the water as she heard tired SOLDIERs pattering after her. They dragged their feet. Sephiroth's fingers only barely locked with Zack's as the younger led them through the dark halls. Aerith's nimble fingers disrobed her fallen angels, striping them of their title and uniform. New scars, freshly sewn together by accelerated healing, peppered well toned chests. Zack more so than Sephiroth. Tired noises pulled at unused voices. The boys protested but only a moment longer before settling to their fate. The boys pulled at Aerith's dress together. Giving her a second to protest if she decided. Zack took the ribbon from her hair, Sephiroth popping gold colored buttons from their eyes. Hands slid beneath fabric to chart well known territory. Something so soft was a welcome surprise after something so terrible. Zack's fingers brushed back curls to kiss along petite shoulders. There were no words. Between the party everything was fluid and regular. Just what the SOLDIERs needed.

The dress joined the other articles near the door. Sephiroth guiding his lovers into the tub by the wrist with a gentle tug. He was feeling greedy, pulling the smaller girl into his lap and the other within kissing distance. His lips were tender, seeking confirmation of affection. Zack happily supplied, already melting in tepid water. They had spent the entire mission together, yet not a moment to be spared for intimacy. The kiss was well deserved. Aerith rested back against Sephiroth's chest, merely basking in the warm radiance of their affection.  Zack edged closer, hand slipping up Aerith's stomach beneath the water. His hand drifted past Sephiroth's wrists, brushing his thumb along the back of his hand as it continued it's journey until ti cupped Aerith's breast. Aerith exhaled sharply, pushing up slightly in the SOLDIER's attentive palm. Zack nipped Sephiroth's lower lip, gently at first before the teeth punctured the softer flesh. A growl rose lowly in the General's throat. The return growl rumbled like thundered in the back of his throat, chasing the Fair SOLDIER's lips to retaliate. His lip only bled shortly, but he managed to nick the Commanders lips. Aerith shook her head lightly, amused that they had gone from tired to playful in the span of several seconds. She could feel Sephiroth's growing hard between her legs, Zack was visible through the water's shimmer. Aerith listened to them snarling at one another like wild animals. Sephiroth's right hand dug into her hip as the other forcefully grabbed the Commander's wet scruff pulling him closer to ravish one anothers mouths. Aerith's peaceful expression was interrupted by a wince as the boys forgot themselves in a lust driven fight for dominance. Nimble fingers swam forward in the drink, seeking her targets beneath the ripples caused by struggling comrades. Long, swift fingers, soft as sin, wrapped around each length and gave a single commanding jerk. It halted their snipping moaning into one another's mouth as Aerith's touch ran slowly up and down each erect mass.

Sephiroth moved damp hair from her shoulders, gently grazing sharp teeth against her flawed skin. Bruises, bites, markings from previous sessions had just barely begun to heal. Yellow and purple littered the porcelain skin. It marked how long they had been apart. It made them both realize how long they had left her alone. Gentle hands, used for war and malice, took the flower girl by the wrist lifting her out of warm water and onto the chilled tub edge. Sephiroth turned to her, pulling apart slender legs. Zack slid beside him, peppering kisses down sensitive inner thighs. Aerith whined, already anticipating the torture to come.

Twin tongues took turns lapping at wet folds. Barely minding that they crossed paths. The water diluted the sweet flavor, Aerith's flavor, but it was still intoxicating enough to cause desire in them both. Sephiroth focused his attention on her clit, holding her hips in place. Zack dove deeper, tonguing her entrance. Aerith stifled a moan, fingers pulling through Sephiroth's hair with one hand and the other gripping Zack's shoulder. Zack moved to prop up her leg with one shoulder, sliding Aerith's talons down to his arm and her purred loudly into her leg. He leaned toward the General, joining him toying with the stimulated nub. Zack didn't hesitate to slide the first finger as Sephiroth continued his languid strokes. Zack panted breathlessly against the general's temple, kissing down the General's neck, finding the pulse and remaining there as he inserted another finger into Aerith's pleading opening. The only thing grounding her to this world was the firm pair of SOLDIER hands on her hips. Her pleasure reached an ecstasy that could only be explained as supernatural.

Inner walls seized around Zack's prodding fingers, but he trusted still, pulling every last whimper from her. He groaned loudly, capturing Sephiroth's lips to taste the flower girl on them. Aerith slid back into the warmth of the water. She kissed down Sephiroth's chest as she melted beneath him, legs trembling in aftershock. Her nips along his hips coaxed a moan from him that Zack gathered and swallowed. He gathered up Sephiroth's hair, twisting it around in his hand till he possessed a good portion of the silver strands. He yanked backwards, pulling the General roughly back to force a naked rear to the throbbing problem between his own legs. He bite down sharply on his shoulder, drawing blood that dripped into the water and diluted to nothing. Zack rocked his hips unrythmically against his lover's cheeks, purring quietly into his superior's ear.

“I'm going to fuck you, and make her watch, just so she can see how pretty you sound.” his tone was husky, dry from kissing. He bent Sephiroth over Aerith, the sweet flower girl kissed parted lips as Sephiroth's fingernails raked against the porcelain tub.

Zack's fingers probed first, stretching and scissoring inside the General's ass without caution. Teasing the entrance for moments to come. Sephiroth cringed, moaning loudly into Aerith's mouth. Zack pulled on Sephiroth's hair again, forcing him back onto Zack's thick cock. He looked down at Aerith, she was watching him so intently he could feel the blush rush to his face. Aerith giggled, an angelic rattle against the demon's growling moan behind him. Another tug on his hair and Zack was sheathed completely. Sephiroth quivered, resting his forehead against Aerith's damp hair. Both boys let out a long deserved moan. Zack leaving barely any time for Sephiroth to adjust to the girth before he started pounding his superior officer.

Zack's husky chuckle sent shivers down his spine as he uttered lust dripped words.

"Babe," he addressed Aerith with warmth in his husky tone, "Show him --" he grunted speaking into the rhythm of his thrusts, "-- what we were working on." he grinned wolfishly. In one, skilled movement, Zack flipped Sephiroth onto his side. One long slender leg draped over his shoulder. Zack placed a kiss to it. He lifted the General out of the water for Aerith's convenience. The woman's eyes flickered to Sephiroth after a moment, looking at Zack as she hesitantly waded toward Sephiroth's twitching nine inches. Aerith took it in her hands. The pads of her thumb running over the head, wiping the fresh pre-cum from the hole. Sephiroth hissed, hiding his face against his arm. Zack reached forward with gentleness he didn't display to the mewling quim below him. Gently taking damp locks and moving them from her face, all the while relentlessly pounding into Sephiroth's reddening cheeks. "Go on." he ordered, low in his throat, kind but firm. Just the way she liked. She turned her eyes up to him as she dragged her tongue around the head. Sephiroth's lips erupted into profanities and moans. But she wasn't finished. “Slowly.” Zack groaned, heavily affected by the way Sephiroth's cock fit in her mouth. He held the side of her head, gripping at her hair as gently as he could manage. Aerith's gaze remained fixated on the dominate party but slowly took Sephiroth's cock in her mouth. Sephiroth's fists slammed on the tub, cracking it a fraction before Zack pulled at the reigns, yanking his head up.

“Watch her.” her ordered, turning the taller again so he was flat on his back, propped up by Zack's strength alone. He was gentle with Aerith, guiding more and more of the monstrosity into her tight, wet mouth. Sephiroth gasped and moaned his approvals reaching down across the small of her back to grab a fistful of lush, plump ass. Aerith gasped around his cock and sent waves over to the already over stimulated General. His grip would bruise and that he would apologize for. But for now he needed her in his hand. It kept him form bucking.

Zack dragged his nails roughly down Sephiroth's chest like a cat kneading a post. Bloods and welts started to dabble clean skin. Sephiroth was barely hanging on, a hand viciously digging into Zack's bicep in retaliation and the other trying to remember a  woman of normal caliber was beneath it. Aerith pulled back but persisted despite the mass of flesh being too large for such a petite throat. She pressed on. Egged on by encouraging whispers from the Fair SOLDIER. She took more of him in, the pressure became maddening, but it took every fiber of his remaining consciousness to remember not to buck into the inviting warmth. He couldn't watch her for very long, she was a goddess for merely attempting this. His head fell back into the crook of his arm, but he peered over at her as he panted her name and Zack's with hot breath. She swallowed seven of the nine. She'd practiced. He could feel the muscles of her throat contracting in confusion.

He whimpered when she pulled away. Licking her lips, she gained Zack's on her's as a sign of approval. He nipped at her bottom lip, smiling widely at her. Praise was well received but he edged her back to Sephiroth's cock and Aerith did so happily.  Lips captured him again and Sephiroth reeled in the feeling of sharp violent strokes and heavenly warmth. He wanted nothing more than to come in those sweet lips. Zack almost seemed to read his mind his hips kicking into overdrive, shifting ever so slightly to hit the right spot. Sephiroth could barely breathe, his head felt light and he could feel the smugness as Zack bit into the sensitive parts of his thigh. He put another crack in the bath as he came down Aerith's throat, Zack's thrust riding him through his orgasm. He watched Aerith swallow every last bit without choice as it was forced down. She pulled away, panting as she caught her breath, swallowing again to assure all of it was gone.

Sephiroth couldn't think, he just wanted Aerith's lips on his. He pulled her forcefully by the rear. Smashing their faces together heatedly, he could taste himself as his tongue ravished every corner of her mouth. The smallest found it hard to keep up and even in his haze, his fingers found their way between her legs. Aerith braced herself against his chest as Sephiroth punished her with his fingers. They slid in easily, Aerith was still slick from their foreplay, and his thumb played at her clitoris. He bruised her lips with kisses, something he'd apologize for later. Zack left marks on the inside of Sephiroth's thighs as he continued his rough pouncing. Sephiroth's ass was red from the heavy slapping of skin on skin only barely buffered by now cold water. Aerith was starting to pant, Sephiroth no longer playing nice with his fingers as he thrusted in and out of her with impressive speed. The sound of Aerith and Zack coming together was almost therapeutic. Aerith curling into his chest as her legs gave out and Zack's hot cum pumping into him. Two halves of a whole.

Zack pulled out, letting Sephiroth drift back into the water. He ran his fingers through his own hair, muttering swears with a smile painted on his face. Aerith remained curled against Sephiroth, eyes fixated on Zack. She shook her head,

“We were supposed to have a bath...” she muttered, feeling Sephiroth's arm snake around her.

“But we needed this, my angel.” he kissed her temple, “We needed to be whole again.”

[sweetestsniper]

“I don’t…” the brunette objected as she pressed a hand to her head. “I don’t… need to go…” she replied stumbling into the Strife boy in her stupor. Wow, he head hadn’t hurt that much a second ago. She took a deep breath, looking up at the blonde with stars in her gaze. “My name…?” she asked, wrinkling her nose once more, “Are you trying to hit on me…?” she questioned stupidly, swaying as he walked her forward. But she could feel the firm hand on her hip.

“Anna…” she finally replied, “Anna Blu, Sniper in training… I’m…infantry for the ShinRa army…” she muttered trying to rattle off the information because it felt right, “What’s your name…? Did you tell me your name?”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

——— {{ Listen }} ———-

She wasn't as concussed as he had originally deemed and all of her vitals that he could check by hand were coming up clearly. He watched her feet to assure nothing would trip her up as they started their decent toward the infirmary. If he kept her talking he could better asses her situation. Those helmets were hard, and not exactly meant to meet head on collisions. Not to mention a detrimental head on collision with a helmet of it's own caliber. While the helmets were no better than upgraded bike helmets, they did their job when need be. Whatever their job was. Protecting the heads of ShinRa's expendable was surely not it's primary function.

“Cloud.” he answered, smiling as she asked for his name. Normally he was just another face in the crowd, it never hurt to have someone offer to get to know him. It left a warm feeling in his chest. So used to being a disappointment, another piece of cannon fodder. It meant a lot when someone asked for his name. It put him one step above the rest of the pile. “I.. .don't remember if I told you that already. Maybe I'm concussed.” his gentle smile stretched his cheeks. He carried her easily at his side. Noting every detail of his new friend. It was a habit of his, he was so far tucked in the shadows no one ever noticed how much he paid attention. A keen eye for small details.  She was smaller than he was, not too much thinner, but she had sturdy shoulders. It'd be something he'd look out for. Anna would no longer be a face in the crowd, there were these tiny attributes that would make her stand out. Well, that and she was a girl.

“We are almost there, okay?”

[thexlock]

{{ Zack }} You can’t fight me, you’re miniature.

“You fucking want to say that to my face, puppy dog?”

[thexlock]

The protest was hushed by stern protesting lips. The blonde scowled.

“You know why puppies don’t get killed because they’re so fucking annoying?”

She yanked one of the suspenders. Snapping it against the SOLDIER’s chest.

“Because they’re cute.”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

The SOLDIER hissed, feeling the welt form beneath the snapped suspender. He held a hand to his chest, trying to ease the pain with sheer will power. He took a deep breath, smiling weakly at the woman. Show no fear in the eyes of a dragon.

“Ah, but am I the cutest puppy you ever saw?”

[thexlock]

{{ Zack }} You can’t fight me, you’re miniature.

“You fucking want to say that to my face, puppy dog?”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

He leaned over the shorter blonde, folding his hands against the small of his back as he did so. Dark locks brushed against her face as he leaned in close.

“ You can't fight me, you're miniature. “

His teasing was sealed with a very brief and gentle kiss to the fire-wielders lips.

[sweetestsniper]

Warm.That was the only word she could use to describe him in this moment. He was warm. It calmed her, the jittery mind of the claustrophobic girl settled into nothingness as she listened to the steady beat of his heart. She reciprocated the hug, arms coming around his torso to ease her tremor. She exhaled quietly, sharing this moment between him that would probably never see the light of day. Anna wasn’t one for public displays. That much was for sure. But they were in the dark in a closet and no one could see or make fun of them. So she allowed it.

Anna’s head lifted from under his chin and screwed into confusion. She could barely make out Cloud’s features, but she could tell he wasn’t at all worried about their predicament. He seemed rather confident in fact. It never crossed Anna’s mind that he had been shoved into a locker or closet before. She almost forgot that the pair of them were the least liked infantrymen in the entire army. She sniffed and stepped away from him, only to be met with the blocked door. She sighed,

“What do you suggest?”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

--- { Listen } ---

In the low light he could still make out the tears and tainted her pale cheeks. Reaching up with the gloved hand he brushed the streaks away, freeing her face of the emotional blemishes. He smiled at her, trying to get one back in response but was far pleased enough that she had stopped panicking. Small steps, right now he had to be the hero. Get them both out of there at all costs. Cloud ducked his head a little, leaning over Anna to observe the state of the door. It was a solid door, as were most things ShinRa built. They were probably just lucky this one wasn't metal like the rest of the doors in the building. Cloud shifted in his pauldrons, bringing Anna to his side,

“Just, hold still. I don't want to accidentally kick you.” he tapped the spot closest to the knob, remembering that it was the weakest part of the door when they were studying drills. He didn't have much space to back up, nor was there much space to prevent from hitting Anna. But he reached over to push her back a little more to the left before lifting up and kicking the door with the brown army issued boots. It barely budged. Cloud took a deep breath and struck the structure once more, a third time, and finally with the fourth, the door bend and the frame cracked. He moved forward and with a gentle but firm nudge he shoved the door open.

“See... that easy.” he smiled at Anna

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

—— {{ Listen }} ——

Something tickled at the back of his head where she was concerned. A new recruit, Yachiru had said. She fought good. Well that was definitely a requirement to reside in the 11th division. He used to be from that squad, he knew exactly the type of people that survived recruitment. But at the same time, when he looked at her. Something familiar rang in his head. Like he had seen her before. Couldn’t have possibly been in the land of the living? The query that befuddled his head was leaving him staring a the curvy blonde from where he leaned. He had just brought Yachiru back from ‘babysitting’, he wasn’t even in this squad and he managed to end up watching the little pink haired monster. Well, more like he was trying to prevent her from eating all of the snacks Taichou had left out for his meeting. Though it was the easiest way to silence her.

He figured someone, or at worst bet she would, notice that he was staring. He moved forward finally, long strides befell due to his long legs. It only took a few strides before he was right on top of her. When he realized he didn’t know exactly why he had moved up so quickly. He leaned again, arms crossed over his chest. It was killing him. Why he so desperately wanted to reach out to her.

“Hey.” he finally spoke to grab her attention. “Abarai…Renji, you’re the new recruit for eleven?” he grinned, “You must be good.”

[thexlock]

Wow, wow this guy needed to shut up. Candy rolled her eyes, far to interested in their enemies to care much for the other’s idle flirting. She sighed, fists up and ready to go. But the SOLDIER moved her around like a lion protecting a cub. She turned around in his grasp, not very fond of using the stranger as a shield, but he gained a position that put her out of harms way. She could see all their attackers in front of her. Then something in him changed, his whole body took on a professional demeanor. Which made Candy believe that this was his living. Saving people. Maybe she was unlucky and caught him on a day that he was feeling particularly flirty. Good for her.

He left her side and she was immediately left open for attack. Though most of the ninja’s were preoccupied with Zack, there was one or two that had it out for her. Candy was almost caught off guard, ducking the swing of a katana and barely blocking the whirl of fists heading in her direction. Candy dropped low, sweeping the other’s feet out from under him before kicking him far from her. She rolled back from the other who was using a sword, kicking up and knocking the blade from his hands. She jumped back up to her feet, keeping her gloves extinguished but throwing punches left, right, and center until she laded a hard enough hit on the other’s jawline to knock him down for good.

She was breathing a little raggedly looking at the SOLDIER boy with a scowl, about to retaliate to his charm when he called out to her. She turned raising an arm to take the blunt of the throwing knives but only two landed in her forearm. One pierced her shoulder, the other imbedded itself in her chest. She cried out, hitting the ground at the same time as her comrade took out the Wutainese attacker. She swore quietly, feeling the searing pain of the blade in her stomach and shoulder. Not a first. But definitely a set to add to her collection.

All the cockiness had melted from the other’s face and replaced with worry.  “F-Fucking peachy, boyo.” she reached down pulling the blade from her shoulder and pressing her palm into it with gritted teeth. “I-I need…you to take that one out for me…” she exhaled through her nose, wincing as breathing agitated the imbedded knife.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

——— {{ Listen }} ———-

He was no stranger to the flow of blood. But it brought him no comfort to know that it was hers. A hand pressed into her shoulder over the top of her own hand already placed there. But the one in her lower abdomen was the one more pressing. Her breathing seemed pained and as far as he could tell, it hadn't punctured a lung. If she was lucky it missed anything vital and she wouldn't bleed out before he managed to get her to the medics. The undeveloped cure materia wasn't going to do much but relieve the discomfort. Which he promptly took out from his pocket without the any further thought on the matter. He probably should have brought something stronger, but the SOLDIER didn't ever have any problem with injuries. Accelerated healing was a perk of being infused with mako, cure was enough to get him by. But she was human – well unagumented – she needed more than a few sprinkles of cure.

“I don't think I should take it out.” Zack's business face was on. He shifted his arms beneath her legs and behind her shoulders and effortlessly lifted her from the ground, “The blade is keeping you from bleeding out, I know it hurts but I think it's better if we leave it in, okay?” he started walking. He was afraid if he ran it would agitated the already punctured flesh and put her in even more pain.

“So, tell me your name?” he was pretty good at small talk. Keeping the woman's mind off the blade in her chest was priority. “I'm Zack...” he knew that she probably didn't ask but he felt responsible for letting her get hurt in the first place. If she died because of this at least she could haunt him if she wanted. He was as gentle as he could be. Despite the strong, muscular appearance of the SOLDIER 2nd, he was incredibly gentle with her injured frame and once they got back to the base camp set up by several of the tag along Infantry members, he gentle set her down on a cot.

“I'll be right here, I won't leave your side for a second.” he took her hand, gestuing over with a wide wave of his hand for the medics to attend to her.

[sweetestsniper]

He was rambling, running himself in circles and it only made Anna stare at him like he’d grown a second head. She wrinkled her nose, a smile crossing her face as he called her pretty and then looped back around. He was digging himself a grave there, if she had been any other cadet… She shook her head, groaning immediately at the poor decision to move her head in that sort of way. A hand came to hold her forehead, feeling dizzy all of a sudden. That probably wasn’t good. She hoped this didn’t mean she’d have to miss rifle training. Then she was really going to beat the snot out of him.

She reached for the helmet and took the whole arm up, surprised by the strength of the lithe figure. He didn’t look like much, but he picked her up off the ground without much effort and she was still leaning heavily on his offer of help. She kept one hand on his shoulder, barely able to look him in the eye as he inspected her.

“I figured you don’t go…crashing into people on purpose. That’s not very nice.” she looked up at him, lost in the striking blue gaze. She cleared her throat, “I think I’m…fine.” she felt dizy again. Woah, maybe she hit her head harder than she thought.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

——— {{ Listen }} ———-

She was smiling, though the wrinkle of her dollop of a nose made the smile seem like a double edged sword. He laughed nervously, trying not to ramble any further than he already stumbled. He turned his attention back to the cadet's well being. Cloud, now with free hands, tilted the brunette's head toward the light, watching the pupils fail to react to the sudden exposure to light. If what he was trained to check for was correct, she had a concussion. He needed to take her to the nurse, not to mention her stumbling didn't really help he case either.

“Hey... I'm going to walk to you the infrimary.” he made sure he had a firm grasp on her hip as he steadied her. “Can you tell me your name?” he'd run a few more of his handy tests while he walked her there. “And you know where you are?” he asked. Hopefully she knew he wasn't being smart with her, but genuinely trying to deduce if she had hit the floor too hard. He didn knock the helmet right off of her.  

[sweetestsniper]

Anna.

Anna stiffened as Cloud’s hands framed her face, staring up at him. How silly it must have seemed to be for him to see her having this melt down. She took a deep breath, slowly inhaling and exhaling through her nose and out the mouth. Trying to calm her rapid beating heart. She stared up at the baby blues, reaching up and placing her hands gently on Cloud’s wrists. She was okay. Everything was okay. They’d get out. They’d be fine. She nodded timidly, keeping her mind of breathing and less on the panicking that she was doing, her eyes closed and she focused on the sound of her own heart. The sound of his voice. She leaned forward a little and rested her forehead against his.

“T-Thank you.”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

---- {{ Listen }} ----

He smiled at her. A calm, humble smile that was proud of his actions. Her palms were smooth against his wrists, she was a bit chilly in comparison to him. Even now her face seemed a little colder than his gloved palms. Her brunette hair fell softly against fingers hidden by leather. He wished desperately that he had been without such limiting articles. This was most likely the only opportunity that would arise where Anna would be so close to him. He'd cherish it. This moment clicked into storage, a story to tell on a better day. Here he was, with his best friend in a closet.

And all he could think about was kissing her.

The blonde's face tinted with crimson as the blood headed up pale cheeks. Anna's forehead rested against his and her hair tickled his cheeks. He reached up and brushed the teasing locks behind her ears. He managed to gather his composure. Such things were embarrassing of a would be SOLDIER, the cadet pulled back and placed a kiss to her forehead before wrapping his arms fully around the petite cadet in an innocent gesture of affection.  He'd wait. This wasn't the right time and he wanted it to be perfect. Anna was his best friend and he didn't want to ruin whatever bond they had now. He rested his head atop her head.

“So... what do you say we get out of here?” he whispered, tilting his head to look down at her.

[sweetestsniper]

{{ Cloud }} △

send me △ for my muse to get trapped in a small closet with yours

“H-Hey!What the hell!” she felt her shoulder colide with Cloud’s as thetwo were pulled from their direct path and into a closet. Wincing asshe knocked heads with the blonde and the closet door was slammedfirmly against her back, leaving the two cadets crammed in the smallspace together. Anna rammed her back against the door. It didn’tgive, and honestly she was sure they had put something in front ofit.

“Help!”Anna called out toward the hall, but there was no response, even toher jostling of the door. She squirmed, feeling panicked in the smallspace. She felt the claustraphobia start to settle in, her breathingbecoming unsettling. She barely even noticed Cloud was there, exceptfor all the brushing up she was doing because the small space. 

Shewas freaking out.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

---- {{ Listen }} ---- This was not the first time that Cloud had been hustled into a small space. Being of small frame already, bullies found it easy to stuff him into any willing compartment that fit the method of torture. It was fine, he didn't seem to be bothered by the harassment on his part. But Anna had been dragged in with him. He fought this time, trying to keep Anna from getting assaulted but both of them still wound up trapped in the closet. Such tight quarters made him cringe. He wasn't afraid of such confined spaces, after being at this for so long, the small room felt like another day in the life of Cloud Strife.

Anna's shouts for help were far more shrill than he ever imagined the girl to echo. He covered his ears, looking a the brunette panic at an alarming rate. Was she even breathing? He spotted the potential hyperventilation in a moment, familiar with the type of panicked breathing from the medical course that he'd been taking. It didn't seem to bother him all that much that his platoon leader felt it necessary to deem him a healer. Like he was too small and fragile for anything else when he had some of the ebst rifle scores in the squad and was passing almost everything with flying colors.

“Anna.” Cloud reached out and took his face between gloved hands. His voice reassuring and calm, he smiled at her, though in their dim light it was hard to see the pearly whites. “It's okay, I'm right here.” he brushed her hair back, “Deep breaths, focus on the sound of my voice, okay?” he wasn't sure if he was pushing his boundaries by touching her face, and he really hoped she didn't punch him for doing so. But if she passed out they'd be in a pickle. “Can you do that for me?”

[thexlock]

It wouldn’t be the first time she had found herself in a forest. Honestly she didn’t know why the forest was such a nice place to drop someone off. There was no one around as far as she could tell and the way out seemed even less likely to be found. The blonde’s hands found her hips in irritation, watching the woods as if it were going to escort her out so kindly. Alice’s forest had. Signs and talking creatures had led her one way or another. She’d gladly take a hint from a talking flower at this rate.

She made it to a clearing, noting that the magic in her gloves was actually acting as such. The flint click gloves normally worked outside magic in case there was a lack there of. But if the magic was present, they’d act without the flint click technology. It was a good indicator when she entered a universe if it was magical or not. So maybe, at this rate, she’d run into some talking flowers.

Or ninjas. Ninjas would suffice.

“Hi, I’m…looking for a way out of this forest?” She didn’t know why she was trying to speak with them, the girl gestured at them again, “Do you speak English? I know some bits and pieces of Japanese, but let me tell you it’s rusty.” she noticed their posture become more aggressive. Candy sighed, hands coming up to ready herself for defense, “Ah well, the universal language, I can get behind that.” she grinned. If they were looking to pick a fight with her so be it.

Candy didn’t even notice the comrade until she bumped into him, nearly turning to swing a flaming punch in his direction before realizing that he was on her side. Flirting with her. And on her side. The wrinkle of her nose screwed up the pale face and she turned back so their backs were touching.

“Get a grip.” she muttered at his flatter. “I could handle this just fine.”

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

——— {{ Listen }} ———-

He could feel the warmth of her against the small of his back. He hadn't noticed how tiny she was until he looked over his shoulder. He liked short girls, made it easier to hold stuff over their heads. The smirk crossed his features again as the Wutainese warriors realized just who was guarding the blonde woman. The insignia on his belt was enough to give away the SODLIER's identity. He could see it in the way they shifted their position. Less aimed for the blonde intruder and more for the intended target. He rolled his shoulders back, pulling the blonde with him as he shifted position, keeping her behind him. “Well... I'd be lyin' if I didn't say I wanted to get a grip on something.” he laughed lowly in his throat. He gave the broadsword a whirl before his face gained a more serious demeanor. Analyzing the situation to find a very quick and safe end to it's conflict.

The Wutainese ninja's were fast but the SODLIER was a little faster, keeping up easily with the assailants. He didn't aim to injure, he swung to kill. Wiping out the fleet in a matter of seconds with a swing of the SOLDIER issued broadsword. He paid no mind to the woman, sure of himself that he was keeping an eye on all the assailants to the point that she wouldn't even have to budge. He had this covered. His over confidence would be his downfall. Just when he thought he had all the ninja's down for the count he spun the sword in had, turning on heel to the blonde with a wide smile on his face. “Now what do you say to tha- Look out!” Zack's reflexes, though fast, were not fast enough to prevent the under-counted Wutainese man from throwing a handful of throwing knives in Candy's direction. The cockiness immediately left his face as he threw himself toward the assailant, ripping throw him without a second thought. He clipped the broadsword to his back quickly, running to the blonde's side. “H-Hey are you okay?!” he was worried, sure the woman was a stranger and potentially a trap but there was no harm done upon him yet. If he had just been paying more attention... This is why he was only a second.

[sweetestsniper]

Hermom was being really annoying this week. Trying to convince her thatmaybe coming home was better if she wasn’t doing so great in the Infantry. That was quitting, Anna didn’t quit. Not to mention the idea of being a farm girl in the small town of Kalm after being trained and conditioned in the big city. It almost seemed maddening. It was maddening. Just the…idea of being cooped up with Chocobos and vegetables for the rest of her life when she could hold a man’s life in her hands – Wow, that got dark really fast.

The sniper had written a letter a ’ no mother I’m staying but it was nice to hear from your’ letter. Hopefully this was enough to keep her off her back for the next few months. Anna didn’t have plans of going back and visiting any time soon, though she was sure her mother would like that. She was more intent on getting in more sniper training while she could. It was still a hard program to breach, but not as hard as SOLDIER. She had no desire to be SOLDIER.

Everyone else did though. Anna turned to look over her shoulder out of some habit that had developed when she collided with the blonde. Her helmet gave her very little peripheral vision, so when she turned her head to look away, it completely blocked Cloud out of sight. With the helmet unlatched, it bounced off her head and rolled off into the corner. The girl swearing under her breath as her head re-colided with the metal floor. She could felt the other cadet’s arm around hers and yanked it away, holding her head and hiding her face from the lights.

His voice was like nails on a chalkboard and she groaned louder, barely noticing the eyes grazing her figure.

“Y-Yes is there a problem?” she snapped back, holding her head. She got that a lot here. You’re a girl! And it irritated her to the bone. She watched to snatch her helmet from him, but was waiting for the world to stop spinning.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

——— {{ Listen }} ———-

He was clutching the helmet to his chest tightly. Feeling like he should say something to object but he was so rattled by his ignorance that he couldn't manage. He cringed as she spoke to him, hiding behind her helmet. This was why he probably didn't have any friends. His mouth opened and words came out. Be whatever their content may be, he found some way or another to offend someone. He had been told it was because he was too nice. He let people walk all over him. This wasn't wrong whatsoever. He shakily held the helmet out for her, sure that she would retaliate with it.

“N-No of course not!” his voice arched in pitch, notifying the other of his desperate fear that he had offended her. “I've just never seen a girl before- I mean I never thought I'd see such a pretty girl in the infan- I mean I didn't expect to see a girl- Not that you're not pretty, I just-” Cloud slapped his palm to his forehead, rubbing his palm into his eye socked. Hoping that the organ would rupture and spare him the embarrassment. And she was pretty, he had noticed before that she was far more well kept that...all the boys really here. She probably smelled really nice, unlike every unhygienic sweaty boy in his platoon. Her eyes were so blue, almost rivaling the SOLDIER's signature color. Yeah, he wouldn't take back that pretty comment, she was very pretty.

He realized he was staring, holding out her helmet like an idiot before he reached down to help her up. “I really am sorry, I didn't mean any harm... or offense, I think it's great that you're in infantry!” he spoke up, his tone was more genuine than anything. “Are you hurt?” he ducked his head now that she was upright, he was only a little bit taller than her but he was trying to inspect the pupils. What if he had knocked her over and given her a concussion?!

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

——— {{ Listen }} ———-

There was a slight hope for himself that if he went into Infantry that...maybe he would make some friends. Back home it wasn't quite like that, the friends that he thought he had were not at all the picture perfect aspects of the silhouettes that he read about in his books. To make matters worse, the girl that held his heart in her fist was one of them. He made a promise to Tifa that so far he couldn't keep. He couldn't write to her and tell her how strong he had become because that would be lying. Cloud couldn't lie to someone he cared about so deeply. Not just like that. Not even on paper.

He wanted to be the hero Tifa sought, but it just didn't seem like it was in the cards for him. The pile of rejection letters from the SOLDIER program littered up his desk until he cleaned them all into a drawer. Part of him was so disheartened, desiring so desperately to give up his conquest, return home and become a mountain hermit for the rest of his days. The other part of him, and thankfully the majority that won out more often than naught, told him giving up  was more pathetic than not getting accepted. That not giving his all into this was probably the reason why he wasn't getting accepted in the first place. He needed to try harder. The squeaky chocobo got the greens, as his mother always said. So he'd keep trying. Instead, he would write a letter to his mother, and tell her about his troubles. She would normally have good advice to give to him. Encouragement along with criticism. His mother would never lie to him.

The letter clutched tightly in hand, he headed down to the mail room. Eyes glued to the floor as he marched. Without his helmet, his range of vision was much better but with his eyes glue to the floor and the neat writing on the envelope, it was hard for him to see the human mass about to cut him off. The blonde warked, stumbling into the brunette with a quiet squeak. Out of reflex he reached out to grab the person, arm coming around her to keep her from falling over but in turn crashing both of them into the floor. The blonde landed next to her, wincing as his back roared with pain and his shoulders screamed in protest to connecting with his own pauldrons as well as the girls.

“I am so sorry!” he popped up despite the pain to make sure that the cadet was okay. He reached for her helmet, picking it up before he notice... her hair was sprawled out everywhere... his eyes wandered down the slender figure picking up on the curves and his face immediately shot up red as his gaze snapped back to the woman's face.

“Y-You're a girl!” he smacked his hand over his mouth too late to stop his words from leaving his cursed lips.

[sempiternalvoices-blog]

------ {{ Listen }} ------- 

Missions out were always his favorite. He got to see the world and that was one of the best parts of the job. Hailing from a place like Gongaga left very little but imagination for the outside world. Being a SOLDIER he had seen Junon, Gold Saucer, Mideel, and may other places along the planet. He never got tired of the fresh air on his pale face and the adrenaline in his veins. He was born to be a SOLDIER. Graced with the blessing of the mako infusions and rank, he carried himself with pride as his aspirations of being a first were tested day by day.

This place was an in between, no where he'd really been before. He wasn't sure if it was a real mission or a test from Angeal, but either way, he was up and ready to go. The muscular raven haired SOLDIER was already prepping with squats as the convoy drove them to their location. Even in the moving vehicle the balance was retained. And the irritated look from Angeal was all he received as he completed his impressive feat.

“Two hundred! Two hundred and one!” he counted aloud just to show off, the cocky smirk plastered on his features as he went up and down to the rhythm of the rocky ride. Angeal seemed to roll his eyes in the far corner, but it didn't stop him. It actually encouraged him to speed up. Dip deeper down into the squad and strain the muscles of his back, butt, and thighs. He swung his arms to pull back up only to drop down once more.

Finally they had reached their destination. Angeal baling out of the convoy with a simple, Split up. Before hustling off,

“All right!” the boy hopped out of the convoy in one fell swoop, rolling as he reached the ground and darting off in the opposite direction of his mentor. Wutainese soldiers were spotted conglomerating in the area. He needed to know why, or in reality, destroy those before the conglomeration because a problem. The war was still going on, even after all these years, and the problems arose day by day. A SOLDIER's duty was to make those problems disappear.

A commotion alerted him to a clearing. Poorly, he attempted a stealth approach, peaking around the bark of a thick tree to spy upon the events that were transgressing across the way. Wutainese, without a doubt, and someone else. Fire on her hands and beautiful as the sun. She was out numbered, however, and even as she knocked them down they got back up. While he could have watched the blonde all day, he decided to intervene. Diving in to the blonde's area without a second thought, drawing his broad sword and deflecting a blow for the damsel.

“Looks like you could use a hand, gorgeous!” he swung upward, pushing back the Wutainese assaliant. “My hands would be glad to help you.”