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ladybug_archiveLast night I randomly drew a picture and it randomly inspired this.
Sephiroth had lost track of the amount of time he had spent in his private office behind the mansion's expansive library. For some hours he had allowed himself to be involved in his typing. The company business had to be seen to. With both Zack and Cloud injured, he was the only one still healthy enough to take care of the necessary work. And he had to push himself for as long as he could.
As long as he was able to do that, he could keep the pain at bay. At least partially.
The door creaking open with care caused him to look up, his glasses slipping partway down his nose. A small form was standing there, meeting his stunned stare with heartbroken brown eyes.
He frowned in confusion. Why would Marlene come in here? She did not associate much with him. Whenever Tifa herded her out of Cloud's room upstairs, she was prone to flee to the attic for solitude. Or else Aerith would take her out on the grounds. It was difficult for Aerith as well, especially with her beloved laying badly injured and unconscious upstairs. But she tried to put on a brave front for Marlene. And it was as much for herself as it was for the girl.
"Cloud's really sick," she whispered now, the tears gathering in her eyes.
"Have you told Tifa?" Sephiroth asked, still bewildered as to why the child had come in here. What could he do about Cloud's injuries, or Zack's, for that matter? What was there to do? He had already determined that they could only make things comfortable for the invalid, and then wait.
She nodded. "She's there with him now, and she called Shera." She bit her lip furiously, as if to hold back a flood of emotions. "She told me I shouldn't be in there."
"She's right." Sephiroth's answer was matter-of-fact, yet not unkind. Cloud's serious delirium and fits of screaming like a wild man were not what such a young girl should be exposed to.
"Don't you care about him?" Marlene wailed suddenly. "And Zack?"
Again Sephiroth was stunned. Unsure where she was going with this, he studied her with an immovable gaze. "What makes you ask?" he said.
She placed her hands on her hips. "You've been down here for hours! And you don't act like you're upset! You never act upset!"
He felt a prick in his heart even as he answered. "I've been to see them. I've done what I can. The company work has to be seen to as well. They wouldn't want it to be neglected." He knew that he had been using his work as a partial excuse. But he had often taken his laptop into Zack's room and sat with him while working. It was almost more than he could bear, when he did so, yet he wanted to be there for his friend. Even though Zack likely did not know that anyone was with him.
Mostly he had stayed out of Cloud's room. Now it was not because of believing that Cloud hated him and would not want him there; now it was because he was certain Tifa did not want him there. And he did not want to be in her way. It would almost seem pretentious, to be in there anyway. Tifa had far more of a right to be in there than he did.
To his shock, she ran to him and started to climb onto his lap. Her small form was trembling as she clutched at him, burying her face into his unbuttoned shirt. Through her shaking voice, he managed to discern words. "Don't you ever cry? Don't you ever . . ."
Slowly he brought his arms around her to steady her. Perhaps to comfort her, too . . . but he had not done anything of the sort for years. It felt awkward now.
"No," he said, echoing words he had long ago spoken to Maryn Austerlitz, "crying won't solve anything."
She looked up at him, her face twisted in indescribable sorrow and fear. Then she burrowed against him again. She had not cried, either, in spite of it all. Maybe after all she had seen, she could not cry. She did remind him somewhat of a girl he had met long ago, whom he had tried to protect. Though that girl had bottled up all of her emotions, not only crying, while Marlene was very vocal.
"Cloud was calling for you," she said.
He frowned. "He was?" That was unexpected, even with their growing friendship.
She nodded. "He called out for Tifa, and Zack, and you," she said, her voice muffled.
Sephiroth said nothing more. Instead he continued to hold her, many thoughts turning through his mind.
"Tifa wouldn't want me there," he replied then.
She was silent. "But Cloud does," she said, her tone plaintive.
Such simple words. And yet they carried so much wisdom. It really was so simple, wasn't it? Cloud wanted him, so he should go and see why.
That was how he found himself upstairs at Cloud's room moments later. He had told Marlene to stay downstairs, and now, as he pushed open the door, Tifa started and looked up. The surprise in her reddish-brown eyes was quickly replaced by apprehension. She did not know what to think of this. She had not expected Sephiroth to come.
Cloud was sprawled on his back, the covers half-kicked away. He was breathing heavily, his eyes wild, his arms splayed on the mattress near the pillows. He did not seem to notice that anyone else had entered the room. He was too lost in his own illness.
Sephiroth stepped closer to the bed. Tifa's eyes were on him every step of the way. What did she think he was going to do to Cloud? He was not one of her favorite people, but surely she knew he would not harm Cloud! Maybe that was not what she was thinking at all, but having such a close watch on him was nevertheless uncomfortable.
"Cloud."
His voice was firm, commanding, as if he was speaking to one of the SOLDIERs who had looked up to him long ago.
Blue eyes partially cleared, and a hand shot out, grabbing at Sephiroth's wrist. "Sephiroth. . . ." He looked up, shuddering, the desperation and pain obvious. "Where's Zack?"
"He's resting," Sephiroth answered. Cloud knew that Zack was also ill, or at least, he had known before he himself had gotten this sick. But in case that had now slipped his mind, there was no point in making the blond further upset.
"He would've come in . . . if he was feeling well enough," Cloud choked out.
"You're right," Sephiroth grunted. It might just make Cloud's condition worse if the ruse continued, since he was aware enough to realize it was, indeed, a ruse.
"He'll get better . . . right?"
Sephiroth paused, looking into the worried blue eyes. To be perfectly honest would be to say he did not know. But would that help the situation? Cloud also knew how stubborn Zack was, and that he would struggle with all his might to live.
"What do you think?" Sephiroth returned.
Cloud glowered at the non-answer. "He'll be okay . . . of course."
Sephiroth nodded.
". . . You'll look after him until he's well, won't you?"
Again with the desperation. Cloud's tone was gruff, as he knew he would not be able to help Zack or anyone at the moment. And he wanted to make sure Zack would be well-looked after.
A slower nod. "Yes."
Now Cloud fell silent once more, his expression tormented. When he spoke again, his voice was rasping. "Sephiroth . . . I . . . I'm sorry . . . for the way I treated you on this planet. . . ."
Sephiroth froze. For Cloud to say that, did that mean he thought he would . . .
He curled his fingers around Cloud's wrist. "You know I don't blame you for any of it," he said at last.
Cloud gave a weak shake of his head. His flesh looked so pale against the white pillowcase. . . . "That doesn't make it right," he mumbled.
"It doesn't," Sephiroth relented, "but don't worry about it anymore."
Cloud sighed, the unconsciousness starting to take hold again. His grip loosened as his eyes rolled back into his head. The lids shut in weariness, as if they were heavy weights. Tifa gave a choked gasp, rising from her position with wide eyes. Clearly she feared the worst.
Sephiroth shook his head, placing Cloud's limp arm on the mattress and reaching to pull up the quilts. "I've seen this kind of fever before," he said then, keeping his voice guarded. "Cloud's is one of the worst cases I've seen. But there isn't much that can be done about it." He straightened up, looking Tifa in the eyes. "He's stubborn. With sufficient kindness and rest, he should recover. And I know he'll receive both from you."
Tifa gave a shaky nod. Now she could see that Cloud was still breathing.
The door flew open as a small blur tore past, enveloping Sephiroth in a hug around the waist. "Cloud will really be okay?!" Marlene exclaimed, looking up at him with wide and joyous eyes.
Sephiroth allowed himself a slight smile, once he was over the shock. "I believe he will be," he answered. It should not be a surprise that the girl had come upstairs and apparently listened at the door. She was well-behaved and tried to obey what she was told, but when she was worried about Cloud naturally she would make that her first priority.
Now Marlene gave him a look of adoration, as if he had healed Cloud himself. Then she ran to Tifa, hugging her as well, and sat down next to the bed. She was determined not to leave until Cloud woke up again.
Sephiroth turned away, heading for the door. He was going to see how Zack was doing.
Sephiroth had lost track of the amount of time he had spent in his private office behind the mansion's expansive library. For some hours he had allowed himself to be involved in his typing. The company business had to be seen to. With both Zack and Cloud injured, he was the only one still healthy enough to take care of the necessary work. And he had to push himself for as long as he could.
As long as he was able to do that, he could keep the pain at bay. At least partially.
The door creaking open with care caused him to look up, his glasses slipping partway down his nose. A small form was standing there, meeting his stunned stare with heartbroken brown eyes.
He frowned in confusion. Why would Marlene come in here? She did not associate much with him. Whenever Tifa herded her out of Cloud's room upstairs, she was prone to flee to the attic for solitude. Or else Aerith would take her out on the grounds. It was difficult for Aerith as well, especially with her beloved laying badly injured and unconscious upstairs. But she tried to put on a brave front for Marlene. And it was as much for herself as it was for the girl.
"Cloud's really sick," she whispered now, the tears gathering in her eyes.
"Have you told Tifa?" Sephiroth asked, still bewildered as to why the child had come in here. What could he do about Cloud's injuries, or Zack's, for that matter? What was there to do? He had already determined that they could only make things comfortable for the invalid, and then wait.
She nodded. "She's there with him now, and she called Shera." She bit her lip furiously, as if to hold back a flood of emotions. "She told me I shouldn't be in there."
"She's right." Sephiroth's answer was matter-of-fact, yet not unkind. Cloud's serious delirium and fits of screaming like a wild man were not what such a young girl should be exposed to.
"Don't you care about him?" Marlene wailed suddenly. "And Zack?"
Again Sephiroth was stunned. Unsure where she was going with this, he studied her with an immovable gaze. "What makes you ask?" he said.
She placed her hands on her hips. "You've been down here for hours! And you don't act like you're upset! You never act upset!"
He felt a prick in his heart even as he answered. "I've been to see them. I've done what I can. The company work has to be seen to as well. They wouldn't want it to be neglected." He knew that he had been using his work as a partial excuse. But he had often taken his laptop into Zack's room and sat with him while working. It was almost more than he could bear, when he did so, yet he wanted to be there for his friend. Even though Zack likely did not know that anyone was with him.
Mostly he had stayed out of Cloud's room. Now it was not because of believing that Cloud hated him and would not want him there; now it was because he was certain Tifa did not want him there. And he did not want to be in her way. It would almost seem pretentious, to be in there anyway. Tifa had far more of a right to be in there than he did.
To his shock, she ran to him and started to climb onto his lap. Her small form was trembling as she clutched at him, burying her face into his unbuttoned shirt. Through her shaking voice, he managed to discern words. "Don't you ever cry? Don't you ever . . ."
Slowly he brought his arms around her to steady her. Perhaps to comfort her, too . . . but he had not done anything of the sort for years. It felt awkward now.
"No," he said, echoing words he had long ago spoken to Maryn Austerlitz, "crying won't solve anything."
She looked up at him, her face twisted in indescribable sorrow and fear. Then she burrowed against him again. She had not cried, either, in spite of it all. Maybe after all she had seen, she could not cry. She did remind him somewhat of a girl he had met long ago, whom he had tried to protect. Though that girl had bottled up all of her emotions, not only crying, while Marlene was very vocal.
"Cloud was calling for you," she said.
He frowned. "He was?" That was unexpected, even with their growing friendship.
She nodded. "He called out for Tifa, and Zack, and you," she said, her voice muffled.
Sephiroth said nothing more. Instead he continued to hold her, many thoughts turning through his mind.
"Tifa wouldn't want me there," he replied then.
She was silent. "But Cloud does," she said, her tone plaintive.
Such simple words. And yet they carried so much wisdom. It really was so simple, wasn't it? Cloud wanted him, so he should go and see why.
That was how he found himself upstairs at Cloud's room moments later. He had told Marlene to stay downstairs, and now, as he pushed open the door, Tifa started and looked up. The surprise in her reddish-brown eyes was quickly replaced by apprehension. She did not know what to think of this. She had not expected Sephiroth to come.
Cloud was sprawled on his back, the covers half-kicked away. He was breathing heavily, his eyes wild, his arms splayed on the mattress near the pillows. He did not seem to notice that anyone else had entered the room. He was too lost in his own illness.
Sephiroth stepped closer to the bed. Tifa's eyes were on him every step of the way. What did she think he was going to do to Cloud? He was not one of her favorite people, but surely she knew he would not harm Cloud! Maybe that was not what she was thinking at all, but having such a close watch on him was nevertheless uncomfortable.
"Cloud."
His voice was firm, commanding, as if he was speaking to one of the SOLDIERs who had looked up to him long ago.
Blue eyes partially cleared, and a hand shot out, grabbing at Sephiroth's wrist. "Sephiroth. . . ." He looked up, shuddering, the desperation and pain obvious. "Where's Zack?"
"He's resting," Sephiroth answered. Cloud knew that Zack was also ill, or at least, he had known before he himself had gotten this sick. But in case that had now slipped his mind, there was no point in making the blond further upset.
"He would've come in . . . if he was feeling well enough," Cloud choked out.
"You're right," Sephiroth grunted. It might just make Cloud's condition worse if the ruse continued, since he was aware enough to realize it was, indeed, a ruse.
"He'll get better . . . right?"
Sephiroth paused, looking into the worried blue eyes. To be perfectly honest would be to say he did not know. But would that help the situation? Cloud also knew how stubborn Zack was, and that he would struggle with all his might to live.
"What do you think?" Sephiroth returned.
Cloud glowered at the non-answer. "He'll be okay . . . of course."
Sephiroth nodded.
". . . You'll look after him until he's well, won't you?"
Again with the desperation. Cloud's tone was gruff, as he knew he would not be able to help Zack or anyone at the moment. And he wanted to make sure Zack would be well-looked after.
A slower nod. "Yes."
Now Cloud fell silent once more, his expression tormented. When he spoke again, his voice was rasping. "Sephiroth . . . I . . . I'm sorry . . . for the way I treated you on this planet. . . ."
Sephiroth froze. For Cloud to say that, did that mean he thought he would . . .
He curled his fingers around Cloud's wrist. "You know I don't blame you for any of it," he said at last.
Cloud gave a weak shake of his head. His flesh looked so pale against the white pillowcase. . . . "That doesn't make it right," he mumbled.
"It doesn't," Sephiroth relented, "but don't worry about it anymore."
Cloud sighed, the unconsciousness starting to take hold again. His grip loosened as his eyes rolled back into his head. The lids shut in weariness, as if they were heavy weights. Tifa gave a choked gasp, rising from her position with wide eyes. Clearly she feared the worst.
Sephiroth shook his head, placing Cloud's limp arm on the mattress and reaching to pull up the quilts. "I've seen this kind of fever before," he said then, keeping his voice guarded. "Cloud's is one of the worst cases I've seen. But there isn't much that can be done about it." He straightened up, looking Tifa in the eyes. "He's stubborn. With sufficient kindness and rest, he should recover. And I know he'll receive both from you."
Tifa gave a shaky nod. Now she could see that Cloud was still breathing.
The door flew open as a small blur tore past, enveloping Sephiroth in a hug around the waist. "Cloud will really be okay?!" Marlene exclaimed, looking up at him with wide and joyous eyes.
Sephiroth allowed himself a slight smile, once he was over the shock. "I believe he will be," he answered. It should not be a surprise that the girl had come upstairs and apparently listened at the door. She was well-behaved and tried to obey what she was told, but when she was worried about Cloud naturally she would make that her first priority.
Now Marlene gave him a look of adoration, as if he had healed Cloud himself. Then she ran to Tifa, hugging her as well, and sat down next to the bed. She was determined not to leave until Cloud woke up again.
Sephiroth turned away, heading for the door. He was going to see how Zack was doing.
