*Sins of Omission*
*part 1*
“… Another headache?” Sephiroth leaned on the doorframe, drawn out of his office by the sound of quiet of all things. His assistant was curled on the couch in tired defiance of their normally industrious afternoon, reports half-done on the desk.
“Not really. Just taking a break.”
It did no good to call the officer out in a lie. Zack was just as stubborn as he was about admitting weakness. The dark haired man was using an empty folder as an impromptu sunshade for his eyes. He tilted it enough to peer out under the edge and give him a cheery grin. Under different circumstances, the general might have believed it.
“I though the glasses were supposed to help.”
“They do… did… I don’t know. It’ll pass in a minute.”
“We have a mission Friday.”
“I am perfectly aware of our agenda, sir.”
“Maybe you should stay here.” Subtly had never been his strong point, and with Zack, it often provided too many ways to dodge a topic. The pale man watched his friend flinch and give him a long, measuring look.
“… You saying I’m unfit for duty because of a little eyestrain?”
Sephiroth snorted in cynical amusement. “… Have you talked to medical about it since the eye exam?”
“I’ve been a little busy with other things, you know?”
“You should go.” The majority of the personnel folders on the desk had been finished. He flipped through the last few to distract himself from the irritated look.
The colonel dragged himself upright with a soft curse, all but snatching the folder out of his hands. “Don’t be a prick, old man. After all these years, I’d like to think you can trust me to do my damn job.”
Usually he knew better than to bother his friend when he was in a bad mood; usually Zack was better able to handle it. Knowing that something was wrong -off balance- with their dynamic only added supporting evidence to his worries. It didn’t help that the man was looking anything but his usual exuberant self when he turned to glare back at him.
So the SOLDIER wasn’t at top fighting form; given that less than a month ago he had almost had a leg bitten off by a highly-venomous something on a mission in the south islands, he probably had good reason not to be. “… stop being stubborn, Zack.”
“I’m fine.”
“I could order you to go.”
His friend blinked, face quickly following his mood from disbelief to anger and finally to blankly ‘official’ acceptance. Moving to his desk and fastidiously straightening his work, he bent to transcribe some new notes into the first blank page at the back. “Yes sir.”
“I want a clean bill of health on my desk by the end of the week.”
“I got that impression, but thanks for spelling it out yeah?”
Sephiroth firmly bit down on his reply, knowing it was unnecessary, unworthy, and more than likely would result in them yelling at each other like schoolboys. He didn’t particularly like bickering with his friend. After more than six years together they both knew more than enough ways of getting and staying mad at each other if they set their minds to it.
Things between them were already strained enough, the slow healing injury, Hojo’s pointless meddling, and now an apparent ‘emergency’ jaunt to some hick mountain town to take care of yet another Mako reactor ‘situation’. The last thing he needed was to alienate the one person he could usually rely upon to get him through the frustrations of his day.
The general silently acknowledged that as commanding officer it was his duty to try and keep things on even keel. It was just strange to even have to worry about it, usually his relationship with Zack ‘worked’ without him having to think very hard at all. Something he realized, that probably had a lot more to do with the dark haired man’s patience than with his own social skills. He let out a sigh, deciding to tackle the situation before they fell into an interminable stand off. “… take the afternoon off Zack. Go down and get yourself checked out... please?”
The tanned soldier blinked and looked up in surprise. Whatever defensive comment he had been about to snap had been forgotten. “… Seph?”
“… you know damn well that I trust you with your duties. It’s your health that worries me.”
“… heh. Crazy old man. It’s just a headache.”
“You might be having a reaction to the anti-venom… Or maybe the idiots gave you the wrong prescription… Either way, I’d rather not find out it’s something serious after we’re half way to nowhere.” Sephiroth smiled slightly. “… Airlifting you back to Midgar once a month is really all my budget can afford.”
“… I’m touched.” The friendly sarcasm was a welcome change from the previously defensive tone. Zack’s grins always did have a way of lightening rooms, people, conversations.
The general had never met anyone cheered up faster than the shaggy headed officer; certainly no one who’s good mood was half as contagious. Sometimes it was easy to forget how much he relied on it. “Get going, Mr. Thomson. I won’t offer twice.”
“And leave you to shoulder my work on top of your own? I think not.” Shaking his head, the SOLDIER calmly closed one file before reaching for the next. He was hampered somewhat by the fact that it was being held down.
“So damn stubborn sometimes…”
“Gee… I wonder who I remind you of?”
“Go, or I will forcibly walk you down myself so that we can both be humiliated by this little exercise.” Sephiroth played his last card, hoping to hell that his friend wouldn’t take him up on it. True to form the officer gave him a funny look and surrendered tugging on his trapped pages.
“… and they call me stubborn… jeez I’m going… I going!”
It wasn’t until Zack had grumbled down the hall towards the elevators that he noticed the man had left his glasses behind. Curious he picked up the trendy accessory and unfolded the arms to hold them up for inspection. The room through the square-cut lenses seemed very much the same as what was visible over the top. He double-checked with the fine print on a portfolio only to frown and set them down again. One way or another, things would sort themselves out, probably with his partner complaining bitterly about whoever had stood him in front of the eye chart.
His assistant popped back into the office just as Sephiroth was retreating back to his desk. “Forgot my glasses.”
“I noticed.”
The Mako-eyed officer gave him a strange look as he scooped the offending item off his desk and stuffed them in a pocket. “… You ok? You look like you’re puzzled.”
“No. Just distracted.” The general waved his friend off, unwilling to admit he was intruding in his affairs.
“Ok.” Zack shrugged. “Come by for dinner later? Beats the hell out of ‘meatloaf night’ down at the cafeteria.”
“We’ll see.” He didn’t look back to see if his noncommittal answer was well received, there was still plenty to be done before nightfall.
*part 2*
Sephiroth knocked a second time for good measure before fumbling through his pockets for his key ring. The inoffensive white door received a glare it probably didn’t deserve, but refused to disgorge the apartment’s occupant, leaving him little choice. He could either retreat back to his own sparse quarters and forage in the cabinets for instant soup, or he could be proactive about things and use the spare key Zack lent him for just this reason. The general shook his head as he found the right keycard and flashed it in front of the reader. Given how loud the man usually listened to his music, it was a wonder he didn’t have to use it more often.
Frowning again, he cautiously peered into the darkened living room-kitchen; he realized that usually on those occasions there was a certain amount of noise seepage into the hall to warn him. It had never occurred to him that the man might not be home. The pale SOLDIER didn’t put it past his friend to sneak out for a night on the town rather than do as he was told. Either that or the officer was hiding around the corner ready to tackle him in the name of some suicidal practical joke. “Zack?”
He was about to turn and leave when his toe nudged the sloppy evidence of shoes and socks piled by the door. At the very least, the dark haired man had come home to change into civilian clothes. Deciding to look for further details to threaten his subordinate with later, Sephiroth shut the door and went to explore the small bedroom. A shirt discarded in the hall told him he was on the right track.
Fully expecting to be alone in the cramped apartment, he was almost startled by the shape curled in the center of the bed. Reaching to the right, he flipped the light switch to get a better view.
“Huh? Fuck! Ow! Off… off please god!” Cramming a pillow over his head, the officer blindly reached around as if for something to throw. Sephiroth took pity and tapped the switch a second time, returning the room to its previous gloom.
“…Tell me you at least pretended to go downstairs before passing out.”
“Seph, you are an evil, sadistic, tight-assed, malicious, paranoid, mother-hen-ing, ruler-toting schoolmarm of a son-of-a-bitch.” Slowly uncurling, Zack threw his pillow in revenge, not caring that it wouldn’t have much effect. “Damn that hurt. Why can’t you knock like normal people?!”
“I did. Apparently you were asleep.”
“Sleep? Really? What time is it?”
“… almost nine.”
“Shit!” Sitting up, the soldier groaned and scrubbed his face. “I’m so sorry… I just wanted to take a nap… not pass out. Fucking geeks…”
Amused by his friend’s befuddled attempts to sort himself out from his bed, the general settled for sitting on the edge of the mattress. He reached out to brace the sleepy man’s shoulder while he untangled his feet. “… I take it you did make it down to medical then…”
“Yeah, they put these crappy-ass drops in my eyes to test for ‘retinal integrity’ or something… and drew some blood… and told me they’d get back to me tomorrow. Bastards. Now I’m all messed up and can’t see straight because light hurts like hell…” Finally upright, the dark haired man leaned companionably into his shoulder as his complaints degenerated into grumbling.
“Ugh. Sounds like fun.”
“I swear some of those people have it in for me… Hojo’s paid’em off or something.”
“That would be funny if it wasn’t a serious possibility.” He could feel Zack’s shrug of agreement more than see his expression, but it amounted to the same thing.
“He was none to keen to hear that I’d be coming along on our little Nibelhiem jaunt, now that you mention it…” The sleepy man chuckled. “I’m going alright. Even if it’s just to screw with him… what’s his problem anyway…?”
Sephiroth simply snorted, keeping his opinion to himself. The scientist was up to something, he had no doubts at all. A reactor incident was nothing that usually required his personal attention, so why was the oily little man so insistent that he go deal with it? The fact that it was this particular town probably was a key element in the equation. Nibelhiem. He hadn’t really thought about it in years.
Watching his friend stagger to the bathroom and splash some water on his face, he considered breaching the topic but couldn’t think of a reason why. His childhood was something he didn’t generally consider small-talk and Zack didn’t deserve to be dragged into a ‘deep’ conversation after his ordeal with the doctors.
“You ever been?”
“Excuse me?” The innocent question jarred his nerves more than he cared to admit. The dark room was a blessing in disguise.
“… to Nibelhiem. You ever been there?”
“… Not that I recall.” With one tiny lie, the potential minefield conversation was silently avoided. He tried not to feel guilty about it.
“… I have. Passed through it on my way to Midgar way-back-when. Not exactly a place that calls you back, ya know? Bucolic. Lots of mountains, snow, hicks. Probably good skiing if not for the wildlife.”
“… which has apparently gotten ‘wilder’… ah well, I expect we won’t be spending much time there.” The general gingerly stood up and followed his second in command into the tiny excuse for a kitchen. “… should you be cooking…?”
The question earned him a tired grin. “Man’s got to eat. So do ‘generals’ now that I think about it… luckily…” Zack reached into his refrigerator, wincing against the bright interior. “…I actually planned ahead. Threw it together this morning… all it needs is some time to heat.”
Sephiroth stared at the carefully tin-foil covered dish in disbelief. “… Do you always plot what to feed me twelve hours in advance?”
“Well I figured I could coax you out of the office tonight, or failing that, tomorrow…”
“Your powers of coercion are impressive.”
“You’re here aren’t you?” Smiling, the general had to concede defeat. It didn’t stop him from taking the dish off his friend’s hands and shooing him out of the way. Reluctant, Zack made room for him rubbing his still tearing eyes, “three-fifty, for forty minutes… damn feels like someone is trying to dig out my eyes from the inside.”
“Lovely. Go lay down, Zack.” It didn’t take too much prodding to get the man moving in the right direction. Stripping off coat, gloves and boots as he went, he followed into the bedroom, trusting the timer or failing that his nose, to tell him when he was needed elsewhere. Presence unquestioned as he folded himself onto the bed and around his shorter companion, he took a moment to silently will away the stress of the day. It wasn’t often he allowed himself intimacy. The fact that he knew it was there if he needed it was actually enough to get him through most weeks. His particular appetites -or lack there of- remained a source of amusement for his second despite long familiarity.
Friend, very occasionally lover, the soldier tucked his face between his neck and the pillow, lips moving in a ghost of a caress. “Been a bitch of a day, you know?”
“Hmmm.” It was easier to agree than to apologize for his roll in it. Zack wasn’t the sort to scold after the fact. Warm, solid and undeniably pleasant, the dark-haired man was a steady constant in an otherwise chaotic life. Hands lazily slid over his back, soothing and welcoming all at once. They almost made the general forget what had brought him over in the first place. “… So the doctor didn’t say anything?”
“Not really… except that I am healthy enough and that they’ll run some tests… oh… they took my glasses away.” Added as an afterthought, the comment seemed to annoy the soldier for some reason. Muscles tensed and then relaxed before Zack burrowed closer to place an honest kiss against his shoulder.
Sephiroth wondered for a moment if his friend was genuine or if his show of affection was a blind meant to distract him. Give his own out-right lie not ten minutes earlier, he questioned his right to ask him about it. The southerner’s health was really none of his business unless the doctors found something mission critical. His friend had every right to call him out for being a pushy bastard.
A second kiss was an offer that he realized he didn’t particularly feel like refusing. Pulling away slightly, he caught the skilled lips with his own, accepting what was given without asking why. Zack taking the initiative was rare, and all the more potent because of it. Carefully rolled back against the bed as they explored each other, he silently wondered what in particular had triggered the event.
“Oh…” Hands no longer content with his back and waist had moved on to gently maneuver through zippers and belts to slip beneath, coaxing the leather off his hips with practiced touches. If it was diversionary tactics, the soldier was taking it very seriously.
“… forty minutes… what do you think… can it be done?”
“… depends what you plan on doing… and how many times…”
The dark haired man laughed, his face almost lost in shadows as he bent down to claim another kiss. “… let’s just call this round one… shall we?”
“… just so long as I’m capable of getting to my desk tomorrow.” Practicality addressed, noted, and dully filed for future reference, Sephiroth slipped his fingers beneath the waistband of the regulation sweatpants to stroke the muscles beneath. There was something to be said for living in the moment, especially when the moments seemed to grow fewer and father between as he got older. Zack’s needy groan was all the agreement he needed.
*part 3*
The rain pelted down coldly, saturating everything it came in contact with. Sephiroth slicked his hair back from his face as he eyed the monster trapped in the beams of the truck’s headlights. Despite the smell of musk and truck exhaust the air felt remarkably clear and refreshing after being inside the stuffy vehicle for hours on end. Even Zack’s cheerful banter seemed to be faltering now that they were within reach of their final destination. He couldn’t blame the man for being tired, between the constant jarring of the shocks and the youngest trooper’s aura of nausea, Zack had to be looking for a few minutes respite.
The dark haired man actually grinned at the dragon as he hopped out of the truck. “Good little rabid-monster. Come to poppa…”
Ignoring the officer’s request, the massive animal snorted and moved off the road; no longer entertained by the truck now that it had stopped moving. Sephiroth took two steps before surrendering style for safety, shifting his sword from its usual tuck beneath his arm and using it as an additional prop. He didn’t have to look behind him to hear his partner suddenly skid, swear, and almost end up on his ass in the mud before doing the same. Slicker than black ice, the only saving grace of the road was that the soil naturally contained a decent number of rocks to find footing on. “You all right?”
“Fucking A… This rain is cold. Wish we were back in Wutai.”
“No thank you. I’ve had enough of mosquitoes for one lifetime.”
“Not my fault they liked you more than me… besides, aren’t you always complaining that I have too much charisma?”
“… That’s completely different.”
“Attracting people, bugs, what’s the difference…”
“Head’s up. It’s caught our scent.” He didn’t worry about cutting the shaggy haired SOLDIER short. The man didn’t miss a beat, transitioning from flippant to all business as he skidded his way to the relative stability of the grass and crouched down, blending into the shadows with uncanny ease.
“At least we’re far enough that the truck shouldn’t get the blow-over…”
“You hope.”
“We could always go for a little jog… lead it into the valley…” The too congenial tone of the offer warned the general against accepting. There was enjoying a few minutes freedom while performing necessary chores, and then there was out-right procrastinating. As tempting as the latter might be, they had a job to do.
“… I’ll begin, shall I?” The pale officer flipped his blade around and moved in for the kill.
Six moves later, the beast was dead. Sephiroth offered a hand to his friend, pulling him to his feet from where he’d collapsed on the grass for a laugh. Beaming up at the storm, the officer shook himself like a dog, hair even more wild than usual with the help of the wet. “… That was fun, let’s do it again.”
“… You were slow.”
“Come again?” Zack blinked at him, startled by the scolding. “I was not. When was I slow?!”
“… You shouldn’t have come…” He regretted the comment as soon as it hit the air, knowing exactly how defensive it would make the man. Trying to back it off a little, he offered a worried shrug. “…your leg…”
“Is Fine. I was cleared for the mission, and I am not slow!” Zack’s glare was molten, sore-spots barely soothed over from their spat earlier in the week. “I can do my job!”
“I’m not saying you c- … forget it. It’s cold, I’m soaked. We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere.”
His friend snorted at the unlikely outburst, unbending enough to nod in agreement. “…Back to the joys of the truck? We’ll be in town in about an hour… faster if the rain lets up.”
It was as close to an apology as either of them was likely to manage for the moment. Sephiroth was determined to make the most of it. Nibelhiem. Even the smell of the mountains was familiar, tickling memories long dormant and left for dead. It was going to be unpleasant, seeing what had become of the tiny town he recalled. If Hojo was involved, things were always unpleasant. He pulled his thoughts back to the present to find his partner watching him silently, glowing eyes unreadable.
“You’re distracted again.”
“… sorry.”
“Something going on I should know about?”
“No.” The general picked his way carefully back up the hill to where the truck was waiting. “Just… was reminded of something.”
“… The storm? The landscape? The monster?”
“Don’t be pushy, Zack.”
“Being secretive is a reflex response for you isn’t it...” The man grinned as he hauled himself up the hand-holds and into the back of the transport. “Tell me?”
“… Nothing to tell really… just thinking about the creature… To hell with Hojo’s specimen requirements. I’m not hauling that thing anywhere without an air-force freighter coming to pick it up.” He didn’t know if he was worried or relieved at how easily the lie fell in place. Considering it, he decided it wasn’t a lie, not entirely. Just because it hadn’t been what he had been thinking about precisely didn’t make it any less valid.
“Amen to that. It’d probably smell by tomorrow anyway.”
Settling himself against the sudden bump of the truck
resuming its journey, he heard the motion-sick trooper groan in dismay and
closed his eyes. Zack could deal with
the boy if he had the energy to. If he got involved he would probably snap at
the trooper for making a nuisance of himself. All he
really wanted was to get to Nibelhiem, settle in the
The dark main looked tired, little lines around the edges of his mouth showing in ways they only did when he was short of sleep, or patience, or both. Subconscious vibrations or pure chance had him look up in time to catch his eye. There was no doubt that beneath the SOLDIER’s mild exterior he was still fuming about being called slow. Sephiroth sighed, wishing he had kept his treacherous mouth shut. His second had enough to deal with, he would see about the guide without bothering him further. If Zack needed some room to breath for once, he wasn’t about to nag him. Tomorrow everything would smooth itself out. Things always did.
The storm blew itself out as if on cue seeming to agree with his make-shift agenda. The truck arrived in Nibelhiem under cloudlessly cool evening skies. Wrapped up in his memories he almost missed the officer’s comment about hometowns completely.
*side scene*
The office was one of the few on the medical level with a view, Midgar’s industrial skyline looking almost pretty beneath the haze. Mid afternoon light tried it’s best to penetrate the ever-present layer of smog that rose off the factories. Zack found it easier to watch the sparkling skyscrapers than study the doctor reading through the latest batch of printouts. She was a beautiful woman. Under normal circumstances he’d have gone out of his way to annoy her with flirting or otherwise pestering her customary workday rituals. Somehow he just couldn’t work up the energy to maintain the façade.
“… you’re down 0.5% across the board, Zack.”
“But I passed.”
Doctor Kind looked up from the pages and frowned at his comment. “Yes but-”
“Sign the form, Meryl. Sign it and let me get out of your hair for the week.”
“I strongly advise against putting any strain on your leg, Zack! And besides, I would really like to run more tests… not to mention more exposure at this point…”
“A little Mako vapor won’t hurt me…”
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.” Her face took on the pinched look she often had when about to launch into a lecture. “I firmly believe that…”
“I’d thank you kindly doctor to keep your personal opinions to yourself.” The SOLDIER held up a hand to catch her mid rebuttal, eyes cold. “… Prove it. And maybe we’ll talk. Until then, leave him out of it.”
“How many more missions, Zack? He’s going to kill you one of these days… one way or another.”
Shrugging with more apathy then he felt, the shaggy haired officer slouched back in his chair. The distant metal gleam of Midgar’s outer wall drew his eye to the windows again. “… as long as I can. As long as I’m fit. Which I am.” He turned the comment into a question, raising an eyebrow to prompt for confirmation.
“…You’re not getting any younger…” She hesitated, removing her glasses to look at him seriously. “… I’m really worried about you Zack, and not just as your primary physician… you should ask for extended leave, or better yet a transfer.”
“… I didn’t join the army to be another shiny button on Heidegger’s overcoat, woman.” He grinned wolfishly. “You’ve got to take the risks to claim the prize.”
Sighing, she put her signature where required, holding the paper just out of his reach to make sure she had his attention. “…Some prize… I want you back in my office within twenty-four hours of return for another physical.”
Meryl glared at his annoyed expression. “I mean it SOLDIER. I don’t want you pissing your life away because of stupid pride and your commander’s stubborn prejudices against scientists.”
“Yes mam!” Claiming his form, Zack leaned across the desk to give her a friendly peck on the cheek. “You know I’m at your disposal any time of day or night…”
“…liar.” Blushing, she tucked her hair behind her ears and smoothed her coat in an attempt to be professional. “Don’t forget to leave your glasses, I’ll hang on to them until you get back and make a note in the records about incorrect lenses.”
“You’re a saint, Meryl. A regular saint.” Hesitating at the door, he spoke without turning around to look at her. “… just by the numbers, your best guess… how long?”
“I don’t even know how it happening…” The doctor grumbled anxiously as she tucked papers back into the folder. “…and you won’t discuss the ‘why’… and god knows what another serious injury would do to affect things…but best guess…?”
“Yeah.”
“… six months… maybe less… the second it drops 2%, I’ll be required to alert the General… after that it’s only a matter of time before you fail a physical.”
“… I may improve… maybe all I need is fresh air and exercise.”
“I don’t think so Zack.”
“… reconditioning then.”
“It’s never been tried.” Doctor Kind tided her desk restlessly, unnerved by the soldier’s impersonal tone.
“… Find me answers, Meryl. I’m counting on you.”
She grimaced as he finally opened the door and stepped into the hall. “Be Careful, Zack.”
“Always!” And with a lewd wink, he was gone.