_The Highwaymen_

The raw pavement, missing its topcoat and most of the usual painted lines, thrummed beneath the tires. Vibration translated all too easily from wheels to shocks, shocks to seat, and then wickedly up through his thighs to warm his spine. Sephiroth grimly told himself that his nerves were jangling due to the motorcycle's speed, the rough quality of the road. It had nothing to do with the arm he had wrapped tightly around the vehicle's driver. If he didn't hang on, he'd be tossed at the next bounce, just a smear on the highway. Pressing into the Soldier's back as they leaned into a turn he hated himself for unconsciously trying to scent a faint hint of the man's cologne.

His bangs stung as they whipped across his face, the rest of his unruly mane streaking out behind him. He'd regret not accepting the helmet later. It was one thing to scoff at the idea of cracking his skull on something as mundane as asphalt. It was something else to deal with the enormous knot his hair was likely to become on this lunatic ride. At least he had accepted the goggles Zack had pressed on him, or he'd have been half blind as well as tangled.

Even over the loud roar of the motorcycle's engine, the reason for their non-standard excursion was audible behind him. After deciding his officer was steering over a relatively level bit of paving, Sephiroth twisted to look over his shoulder. Opening four separate jaws to howl, the beast's cry was loud enough to deafen. An impressive assortment of teeth clattered against one another as the mouth snapped shut, narrowly missing a jeep full of Soldiers that was running a parallel course to theirs.

Checking his grip on Zack's waist, Sephiroth brought his other arm around, getting a feel for the wind sheer on Masamune. The force of the air changed the dynamics of the blade somewhat, but it wasn't beyond his ability to adjust. Extending the weapon out to the side like an impossibly thin wing for the motorcycle, Sephiroth leaned forwards again. "Prepare to engage."

"You're fucking insane!" He laughed, "But alright!" The southerner leaned abruptly, taking them into a tight turn. As soon as it was safe, perhaps even before, the Soldier gunned the bike into an all-out charge back the way they had come.

The less than professional commentary would have to be ignored for the moment. Sephiroth was focused on the beast, tracking its head, trusting that his irreverent accomplice would focus on keeping them from being trodden on. Disabling the monster was his job, and he didn't foresee any difficulties, provided Zack had the balls to get them close enough. And thus far in their acquaintance, it didn't seem there was anything the southerner wouldn't do, especially when dared.

Sure enough they were aiming right between the beast's legs, startling the animal somewhat as it tore itself away from stalking the jeep in order to watch them instead. Doing the improbable, it actually managed to rear, hauling its enormous bulk up into the air as they closed the distance, threatening to smash them with its front claws.

"Hang on." Zack cried authoritatively, and nobody's fool, his commander did just that.

The bike tilted alarmingly as they swerved around one massive paw and then another, Sephiroth making no pretense of not clinging to his driver with every intention of melding with the man. Somehow he kept his seat long enough to appreciate that they were almost precisely under the monster's belly, and changing tactics, he shifted his feet to get leverage against the motorcycle. "This is where I get off."

"What? Hey!"

Zack's rapidly receding complaint was nothing. He had already sprung off the vehicle, using momentum and his not unimpressive strength to vault up over the beast's shoulder and swing his sword around for action. Distantly he could hear the bike's tires skidding out, likely his abrupt departure throwing Zack's balance off. He spared a second to worry that the tumble might break the man's leg, but didn't dwell on it. The southerner was a Soldier, for all his madcap ways. He'd probably be just fine.

Bring his blade down as he landed, he drove the weapon point first down into the base of the irate creature's skull.

*****