[ The call had come from Reeve. Seeing the man's name pop up on the screen of his phone always filled him with a bit of dread. There was rarely a reason for Reeve to call unless something had happened. And it was often something bad. This time turned out to be no different.
They'd found Sephiroth.
Apparently they hadn't been done checking out the Northern Crater. Cloud couldn't for the life of him understand why, but he supposed it's a good thing they had. They had found Sephiroth unconscious, seeming to be in a weakened state. A decision to capture the man had been reached (a fucking insane decision, if you asked Cloud, but when Reeve told him that Rufus had been the one insisting on it - it made a little more sense).
Now he was kept at the WRO's headquarters, in one of their laboratories, with every security measure taken to keep him there. Cloud does not feel confident that it'll be enough. Rufus had apparently not wanted Cloud to find out about this (well, fuck you too, Rufus), but Reeve had put his foot down on that matter. You deserve a say in what happens to him, he'd said.
Cloud had been tempted to simply say, "let me kill him", but he knows better than anyone that Sephiroth has the tendency to not stay dead. As evidenced by the fact that he's back again. He'd gotten the call while on his way back to Edge from a delivery, and instead of going home he'd turned Fenrir towards the WRO's headquarters. He'd have to explain everything to Tifa and Barret later. Right now, he needs to see his nemesis, to be sure that it's really him and not some very convincing clone or something. According to Reeve, Sephiroth was awake, but not saying much. Cloud has a feeling he may be able to get the man to talk. He'd always enjoyed monologuing around Cloud, anyway.
Once he's at this destination, he's welcomed in by Reeve who without saying much, shows him to the lab they're keeping the biggest threat to Gaia. This is insane, Cloud thinks as he's greeted by a uncharacteristically subdued Reno and an even more stone-faced than usual Rude. Neither of them seem happy about any of this. Cloud can't blame them.
Inside the lab he finds Tseng, Elena and Rufus. Before any of them can utter a word, Cloud points towards the door. ]
Leave.
[ Elena looks almost relieved, Tseng glances to Rufus who looks mildly offended, but neither of them protest - much to Cloud's surprise. He'd definitely expected Rufus to put up more of a fight. Maybe they're starting to realise that picking a fight with Cloud is never a good idea.
Rufus passes close to Cloud as he takes his leave and utters one comment, "Try not to kill him."
Cloud just scoffs. He makes no promises.
Once they're gone and the door's been closed he makes his way deeper into the lab. He fucking hates labs, and while this one doesn't look anything like Hojo's creepy-ass labs, Cloud still feels massively uncomfortable in this kind of environment.
It's not difficult to find where they're keeping Sephiroth. In a large, heavily reinforced chamber he's strapped down to an examination table with what has to be some seriously strong restraints. Cloud shivers a little at the sight of him like that. It's a little to reminiscent of his own time spent as Hojo's test subject.
He's not here to feel sorry for Sephiroth though. He can't tell if the man is awake or not. His head is turned away, and so Cloud slowly approaches the chamber. ]
[Sephiroth barely remembers the course of events that brought him here. He had made an attempt to manifest on the planet's surface again, but after that everything becomes muddled. Waking up constrained added nothing but boiling anger to his state of mind.
He gives them credit for using everything possible to keep him subdued. Restraints, enough drugs to kill a regular human, even the chamber itself seems overly re-enforced. He wonders if this was something made in preparation for him or something else, though it matters little. Sephiroth is going to kill every last one of them who dared to capture him.
Especially that smug Shinra who seemed far too pleased about all of this. He imagines this had to be his doing. The lab and everything involved is far too much like something headed by the former senior Shinra.
He doesn't know what they hope to achieve, but he will not become another experiment. So he's ignored any questions so far, keeping his thought to himself. Letting them stew in hate. Until he finds some sort of weak point, he can't break free. He can't tell if its because of something they did to him or not.
Part of his thoughts had drift towards Cloud -- wondering if he played any part, around the time he hears his name. The reunion nor their connection is needed for him to tell the source. He knows that voice well. Very well.]
Cloud.
[So maybe he is apart of this. He's not sure if he feels offended or not if his nemesis has chosen to keep him captive than fight him one on one. Lifting his head, he shifts so that he can at least look at him.]
Is this your doing?
[Though there's no real emotion in his voice, his question is laced with anger and his eyes burn bright. If Cloud is behind this as well, he'll make him suffer extra hard. He'll tear away everything he cares about.]
[ At least it seems that the security measures are holding so far. Cloud doesn't for a second doubt that Sephiroth would have murdered everyone in this building already if he had been able to get out of his confinement.
Cloud shakes his head in response to the question. ]
No. You can thank Rufus Shinra for that. I only just found out.
[ This is definitely not Cloud's style. Capturing his enemy, keeping him like some sort of lab specimen... no, definitely not something Cloud would do. He's not sure what he would have done if he'd been the one who found Sephiroth, though. It's also not his style to kill someone who is unable to defend themselves. Even if that person is Sephiroth, he doesn't think he could go through with that. It'd feel... cheap. Unfair.
Considering all that Sephiroth has done to him, to people he loved, he probably shouldn't care. It's not like Sephiroth had played fair when he killed Cloud's mother, or Aerith, but... he does care. Maybe he simply doesn't want to stoop to that same level. ]
[That confirms a few things. Mostly that he needs to end Rufus' life in the most painful way possible. He'll have to consider what exactly he'll do to him later. For now Cloud is here and that is far more important.]
They brought you here to play a part. Perhaps to get information, or maybe to join in with their plans. Does this please you, Cloud? Seeing me here, like this. Is it familiar to what happened to you?
[Since he can't fully answer Cloud's question, he's just going to avoid it all together. Act like it wasn't even asked at all. Perhaps he can piss him off enough that he'll do something stupid, either try and kill him and break the binds or kill him which would somehow be a better fate.]
[ Of course Sephiroth can't just answer a simple question, though it does make Cloud feel fairly certain that Sephiroth probably doesn't really know how exactly this all happened. ]
Yeah, probably. Reeve thinks I deserve a say in what happens to you. Rufus doesn't want you dead, but I doubt that's out of kindness.
[ He's not naive. Rufus may have made a promise to work towards the betterment of the planet, but Cloud still doesn't trust him. The fact that Rufus wants Sephiroth alive... well, that doesn't sit right with Cloud. He must have plans to use Sephiroth for something, or maybe he's simply looking to torture him as a way of getting some revenge. Revenge for Meteorfall, for Geostigma... For losing his position, his power. ]
No, it doesn't please me. You're a danger to everyone in this building. Rufus is a fucking idiot for bringing you here.
[ He can't say that he would mourn if something happened to Rufus, but he doubts Sephiroth would spare those that had nothing to with his imprisonment. ]
[Oh no, Sephiroth would bring the whole place down including everyone inside. He might not specifically target those not involved, but he won't avoid any casualties either. Just being here implicates them in the rest.
Cloud's comment about Rufus earns a noise that's almost like a laugh. If Sephiroth wasn't so angry at his situation, it might be.
But he's angry, he hates. He wants out one way or another.]
Then what do you intend to do, Cloud? Are you going to play their game? Become a pawn for a fallen empire still somehow grasping for power? End it Cloud. End this before it turns into something else.
[Because Sephiroth refuses to let himself become another experiment, and if he has to provoke Cloud into not letting that happen so be it.]
[ He should probably just kill Sephiroth. It'd be the safest thing for everyone. Rufus is an idiot willing to risk the lives of everyone in this building, but that doesn't mean Cloud has to let him continue this insanity. It'd be easy with Sephiroth restrained and subdued like he is, but the idea of going in there and just executing Sephiroth... it's uncomfortable. He doesn't like the thought of doing it like that. Even if Sephiroth is practically asking him to. ]
Isn't it what you want to do? For all the pain I've caused. The lives I've taken. The fires of your hometown still burn within your heart. Your mother's cries still whisper in your ear. And you still see her face when you close your eyes. Your hate guides you to take action, does it not? It will be easy. For once you won't almost face the kiss of death yourself.
[Of course Cloud would hesitate because why do what Sephiroth wants him to do. If only he could reach into his mind and command him to unlock the restraints. And Sephiroth has been trying to feel their connection, but so far there's nothing for him to grasp onto. All he has left are words.]
[ Unfortunately perhaps for Sephiroth, Cloud is pretty immune to the man's provocations and taunts at this point. Sure, the pain of losing people he'd loved is still there, but it doesn't bring him to his knees the way it used to. It doesn't activate the guilt and self-loathing he'd used to feel. He's accepted the past, and that he can't change it. He's moved on as best as one could expect, though of course, Sephiroth makes that harder. ]
You'd deserve it. But... I'm not like you. I don't kill people who can't defend themselves.
[ Either way... he needs time to think. And a drink, or several. Talking to Tifa seems a good idea too. She tends to be the voice of reason in Cloud's life, after all. ]
[Sure, go on Cloud, be stubborn -- cling to some sort of higher moral ground. It's frustrating beyond measure. Sephiroth can do nothing but try and move against the restraints that won't give. Clearly Cloud is not going to be of any use right now.
Sephiroth will have to find another angle. Find someway to get out.]
You will regret this decision.
[That's half spoken as a warning, half as a threat.]
[ With that he turns on his heel to leave. Rufus and the Turks are still waiting outside when he leaves the lab. He informs them that he's not reached a decision on what to do, but that he'll be back.
He then leaves the WRO headquarters behind and heads for home. ]
[Sephiroth says nothing at Cloud's departure and goes back to mostly being silent with his captors. He owes them nothing so they get nothing. Just angry glares that set them on fire if possible. Anything else -- thoughts, plans, etc, he keeps to himself.
When Cloud didn't return the second day, Sephiroth started to consider that he might have made the decision to leave him to this fate. As the days went on, he almost became sure of it. Though he can't tell exactly how much time has passed. The drugs continually pumped into his system make everything merge together into some sort of hazy fog. And he feels weak. Very, very weak.
That's the part that infuriates him the most. Even focusing on his rage is difficult. He can endure pain. He can endure their needles, the prodding, their attempts at seeing what exactly can break his body. They even managed to forcefully manifest his wing, though it's hard to say what is left of that by now. He'll still give them nothing. Not give Rufus the satisfaction he's looking for.
That's all he really has control of now. His thoughts, dulled by the drugs, but it can't fully contain his rage. He's eternal after all. And when he's finally free he's going to burn the entire planet into nothing.]
[ Cloud hasn't left Sephiroth. He did say he would return, and he intends to keep that promise. However, taking time to think had taken longer than he'd anticipated. He'd talked to Tifa, who had been surprisingly sympathetic to Cloud's moral dilemma. She'd told him that she would accept whatever decision he reached, which was nice, but not helpful in the least. It would have been easier if she'd told him to straight up kill Sephiroth or something.
He'd accepted a couple of deliveries that would take him outside of Edge, hoping that time on the road would clear his head and give him the insight he was looking for. No such luck however. Once he comes back home, he still hasn't made up his mind.
He doesn't feel comfortable leaving Sephiroth in the hands of Rufus and the others for too long though. He's the only one who could stop Sephiroth should he get free somehow. It definitely feels better to be 100% sure where he is. Then again, if Sephiroth had gotten free, he's sure half the planet would be destroyed by now.
So he once again finds himself steering Fenrir towards the WRO headquarters. This time he's dropping by without prior notice, but no one seems particularly surprised to see him. Reno and Rude are still stationed outside of the lab, apparently having been assigned some sort of guard duty. They're not looking any happier about it than when Cloud saw them last. He doesn't feel much sympathy.
No one else is in the lab when he enters, and so he walks straight to Sephiroth's chamber. The sight that meets him... Cloud is quite appalled by it. His eyes are immediately drawn to the wing, broken and mangled, and he can't help but to wince. It seems that torture is Rufus' game here. ]
[Sephiroth's eyes remain shut when Cloud approaches. At first he thinks he might be experiencing some sort of drug-induced hallucination at the voice. Maybe it is. He feels so muddled it's hard to tell. Green eyes slowly blink open and cast a gaze towards Cloud. Hallucination or not ...]
... Did you expect any different? Are you even really here?
[He can't tell if the words came out sounding as disoriented as he currently feels. Everything is a mess. If Cloud did actually come back maybe he finally do something. Sephiroth is too worn down and drugged to attempt another manipulation tactic like he did before. If he lets his head clear a little maybe ...]
[ Are you even really here? Something about that makes something tighten in his chest. It has to be bad if Sephiroth's questioning reality. And once again, too familiar. ]
I'm here.
[ He can't let this keep going on. Sephiroth has done awful things, but even he doesn't deserve to be tortured. Sephiroth seems weak enough now that he'd likely not pose a great threat...
Cloud heads over to a computer that's near the chamber. Sephiroth's vitals are being monitored on them. Cloud gives it a cursory glance - he's not an expert, but he can at least tell that Sephiroth's blood pressure is unhealthily low. At least it would be for a normal person...
He looks around until he finds what appears to be a mechanism to unlock the chamber, and with little hesitation, he makes use of it. Taking a deep breath, he steps inside. ]
[Well, thankfully for Cloud it isn't any sort of trap because as Sephiroth doesn't suddenly burst free of the restraints to kill him. He does, however, keep eyes on him as he comes inside.
If he knew Cloud was feeling pity for him, he'd actually be annoyed. As much as he wants out of this situation, someone feeling sorry for him is offensive in some way. Probably his pride, though that is also rather wounded as well.
... Cloud seems to be real as far as he can tell at least.]
So you've finally decided then?
[Good. He fully expects Cloud to just kill him. Cast him back to the lifestream, where he can go back to formulating plans -- one that will probably have a minor detail of slowly killing Rufus next time around.]
I hope all your decision making doesn't take quite as long as this one.
[ Seeing Sephiroth like this... He still doesn't want to kill him, not like this anyway, even if it'd be kind of like putting a suffering animal out of its misery, but... he can't let this keep happening either.
He eyes the wing again. It looks incredibly painful. ]
I'm not going to kill you. Not while you can't fight back, anyway. If you promise not to try anything, I'll get you out of here.
[Cloud should know better. Though it's not like Sephiroth can do much of anything anyway as much as he wants to. And he should be happy Cloud is suggesting getting him out. Just like a good puppet should, but that probably goes back to his frustration over needing help in the first place. No matter how he tries to spin it in his head it goes back to how he can't get out of this on his own.
And that's very very annoying.]
If you fear for their lives, I will not promise I will not do anything later ... but at the moment their drugs are rather ... effective.
Killing you's never worked permanently. You'd go to the Lifestream, come back, and probably try to kill everyone in this building anyway. I'd feel better being the one keeping an eye on you.
[ With that he gets close enough to start undoing the straps keeping Sephiroth trapped to the examination table. Once they're out of the way he takes a step back. He's ready to give Sephiroth a helping hand, since it looks like he needs it, but he has a feeling the other man is going to be offended if Cloud offers it. ]
[ Cloud had expected this, but Sephiroth's a bit heavier than he'd thought he'd be. He still manages to wrap an arm around his middle and lend support to him. Damn, it's strange to see Sephiroth so weak. He's not going to comment on it, though, or Sephiroth might just try to use what little strength he has to murder him...
Instead he starts to lead the taller man out of the chamber. He realises then that he hasn't thought of a way to get them out without being spotted by everyone in the building. Shit. He turns to Sephiroth. ]
You wouldn't happen to know about some other way out of here, would you?
[This is fine. It's not really, but he's going to pretend as he leans almost all of his weight onto Cloud. He feels heavy himself. Even his wing feels heavy.
When the question comes, he can only give Cloud a look. He doesn't even remember being brought to this place, let alone its layout.]
For a hero, you're not very good at this sort of thing.
[ The response doesn't surprise him much, but he does roll his eyes. ]
Well, I wasn't expecting to mount a rescue mission when I got here.
[ He looks around until his gaze falls on a chair. He leads Sephiroth over to it and helps him sit down. ]
Wait here. I'll have a look around.
[ The lab is big, but it doesn't take too long for Cloud to notice an emergency exit. Jackpot. He returns to Sephiroth and wraps his arm around him again, helping him up. He nods in the direction of the exit. ]
[Cloud is lucky Sephiroth does not feel well at the moment, otherwise he might make more commentary about the lack of preparedness. Combined with what Cloud said ... it just makes him annoyed. He can't do much about it, which makes him doubly annoyed.]
They're going to consider you an enemy after this. You do realize that, yes?
[Partly why he doesn't understand why he's getting a 'rescue' ... If Cloud wanted to maintain his status he should have just killed him. This is going to cause Cloud problems, and Sephiroth cannot fully understand why -- other than him clinging to some misplaced pity. Which is another set of annoyances.
Still ... he can do nothing but lean heavily on the shorter man as they make their way towards the exit. What a strange course of events this has been.]
[ Cloud shrugs as he leads Sephiroth towards the exit. ]
I don't really care what Rufus and his minions think about me.
[ He's sure that Reeve and his other friends are going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they'll assume he's taking Sephiroth somewhere else to kill him. Hopefully they won't think that he's being controlled again. He'll have to make some phone calls later to reassure them.
He pushes the door open with his shoulder and enters into a stairwell. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Captured @sefirot
They'd found Sephiroth.
Apparently they hadn't been done checking out the Northern Crater. Cloud couldn't for the life of him understand why, but he supposed it's a good thing they had. They had found Sephiroth unconscious, seeming to be in a weakened state. A decision to capture the man had been reached (a fucking insane decision, if you asked Cloud, but when Reeve told him that Rufus had been the one insisting on it - it made a little more sense).
Now he was kept at the WRO's headquarters, in one of their laboratories, with every security measure taken to keep him there. Cloud does not feel confident that it'll be enough. Rufus had apparently not wanted Cloud to find out about this (well, fuck you too, Rufus), but Reeve had put his foot down on that matter. You deserve a say in what happens to him, he'd said.
Cloud had been tempted to simply say, "let me kill him", but he knows better than anyone that Sephiroth has the tendency to not stay dead. As evidenced by the fact that he's back again. He'd gotten the call while on his way back to Edge from a delivery, and instead of going home he'd turned Fenrir towards the WRO's headquarters. He'd have to explain everything to Tifa and Barret later. Right now, he needs to see his nemesis, to be sure that it's really him and not some very convincing clone or something. According to Reeve, Sephiroth was awake, but not saying much. Cloud has a feeling he may be able to get the man to talk. He'd always enjoyed monologuing around Cloud, anyway.
Once he's at this destination, he's welcomed in by Reeve who without saying much, shows him to the lab they're keeping the biggest threat to Gaia. This is insane, Cloud thinks as he's greeted by a uncharacteristically subdued Reno and an even more stone-faced than usual Rude. Neither of them seem happy about any of this. Cloud can't blame them.
Inside the lab he finds Tseng, Elena and Rufus. Before any of them can utter a word, Cloud points towards the door. ]
Leave.
[ Elena looks almost relieved, Tseng glances to Rufus who looks mildly offended, but neither of them protest - much to Cloud's surprise. He'd definitely expected Rufus to put up more of a fight. Maybe they're starting to realise that picking a fight with Cloud is never a good idea.
Rufus passes close to Cloud as he takes his leave and utters one comment, "Try not to kill him."
Cloud just scoffs. He makes no promises.
Once they're gone and the door's been closed he makes his way deeper into the lab. He fucking hates labs, and while this one doesn't look anything like Hojo's creepy-ass labs, Cloud still feels massively uncomfortable in this kind of environment.
It's not difficult to find where they're keeping Sephiroth. In a large, heavily reinforced chamber he's strapped down to an examination table with what has to be some seriously strong restraints. Cloud shivers a little at the sight of him like that. It's a little to reminiscent of his own time spent as Hojo's test subject.
He's not here to feel sorry for Sephiroth though. He can't tell if the man is awake or not. His head is turned away, and so Cloud slowly approaches the chamber. ]
Sephiroth?
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He gives them credit for using everything possible to keep him subdued. Restraints, enough drugs to kill a regular human, even the chamber itself seems overly re-enforced. He wonders if this was something made in preparation for him or something else, though it matters little. Sephiroth is going to kill every last one of them who dared to capture him.
Especially that smug Shinra who seemed far too pleased about all of this. He imagines this had to be his doing. The lab and everything involved is far too much like something headed by the former senior Shinra.
He doesn't know what they hope to achieve, but he will not become another experiment. So he's ignored any questions so far, keeping his thought to himself. Letting them stew in hate. Until he finds some sort of weak point, he can't break free. He can't tell if its because of something they did to him or not.
Part of his thoughts had drift towards Cloud -- wondering if he played any part, around the time he hears his name. The reunion nor their connection is needed for him to tell the source. He knows that voice well. Very well.]
Cloud.
[So maybe he is apart of this. He's not sure if he feels offended or not if his nemesis has chosen to keep him captive than fight him one on one. Lifting his head, he shifts so that he can at least look at him.]
Is this your doing?
[Though there's no real emotion in his voice, his question is laced with anger and his eyes burn bright. If Cloud is behind this as well, he'll make him suffer extra hard. He'll tear away everything he cares about.]
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Cloud shakes his head in response to the question. ]
No. You can thank Rufus Shinra for that. I only just found out.
[ This is definitely not Cloud's style. Capturing his enemy, keeping him like some sort of lab specimen... no, definitely not something Cloud would do. He's not sure what he would have done if he'd been the one who found Sephiroth, though. It's also not his style to kill someone who is unable to defend themselves. Even if that person is Sephiroth, he doesn't think he could go through with that. It'd feel... cheap. Unfair.
Considering all that Sephiroth has done to him, to people he loved, he probably shouldn't care. It's not like Sephiroth had played fair when he killed Cloud's mother, or Aerith, but... he does care. Maybe he simply doesn't want to stoop to that same level. ]
So, what happened?
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[That confirms a few things. Mostly that he needs to end Rufus' life in the most painful way possible. He'll have to consider what exactly he'll do to him later. For now Cloud is here and that is far more important.]
They brought you here to play a part. Perhaps to get information, or maybe to join in with their plans. Does this please you, Cloud? Seeing me here, like this. Is it familiar to what happened to you?
[Since he can't fully answer Cloud's question, he's just going to avoid it all together. Act like it wasn't even asked at all. Perhaps he can piss him off enough that he'll do something stupid, either try and kill him and break the binds or kill him which would somehow be a better fate.]
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Yeah, probably. Reeve thinks I deserve a say in what happens to you. Rufus doesn't want you dead, but I doubt that's out of kindness.
[ He's not naive. Rufus may have made a promise to work towards the betterment of the planet, but Cloud still doesn't trust him. The fact that Rufus wants Sephiroth alive... well, that doesn't sit right with Cloud. He must have plans to use Sephiroth for something, or maybe he's simply looking to torture him as a way of getting some revenge. Revenge for Meteorfall, for Geostigma... For losing his position, his power. ]
No, it doesn't please me. You're a danger to everyone in this building. Rufus is a fucking idiot for bringing you here.
[ He can't say that he would mourn if something happened to Rufus, but he doubts Sephiroth would spare those that had nothing to with his imprisonment. ]
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Cloud's comment about Rufus earns a noise that's almost like a laugh. If Sephiroth wasn't so angry at his situation, it might be.
But he's angry, he hates. He wants out one way or another.]
Then what do you intend to do, Cloud? Are you going to play their game? Become a pawn for a fallen empire still somehow grasping for power? End it Cloud. End this before it turns into something else.
[Because Sephiroth refuses to let himself become another experiment, and if he has to provoke Cloud into not letting that happen so be it.]
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[ He should probably just kill Sephiroth. It'd be the safest thing for everyone. Rufus is an idiot willing to risk the lives of everyone in this building, but that doesn't mean Cloud has to let him continue this insanity. It'd be easy with Sephiroth restrained and subdued like he is, but the idea of going in there and just executing Sephiroth... it's uncomfortable. He doesn't like the thought of doing it like that. Even if Sephiroth is practically asking him to. ]
You want me to kill you?
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[Of course Cloud would hesitate because why do what Sephiroth wants him to do. If only he could reach into his mind and command him to unlock the restraints. And Sephiroth has been trying to feel their connection, but so far there's nothing for him to grasp onto. All he has left are words.]
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You'd deserve it. But... I'm not like you. I don't kill people who can't defend themselves.
[ Either way... he needs time to think. And a drink, or several. Talking to Tifa seems a good idea too. She tends to be the voice of reason in Cloud's life, after all. ]
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Sephiroth will have to find another angle. Find someway to get out.]
You will regret this decision.
[That's half spoken as a warning, half as a threat.]
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[ With that he turns on his heel to leave. Rufus and the Turks are still waiting outside when he leaves the lab. He informs them that he's not reached a decision on what to do, but that he'll be back.
He then leaves the WRO headquarters behind and heads for home. ]
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When Cloud didn't return the second day, Sephiroth started to consider that he might have made the decision to leave him to this fate. As the days went on, he almost became sure of it. Though he can't tell exactly how much time has passed. The drugs continually pumped into his system make everything merge together into some sort of hazy fog. And he feels weak. Very, very weak.
That's the part that infuriates him the most. Even focusing on his rage is difficult. He can endure pain. He can endure their needles, the prodding, their attempts at seeing what exactly can break his body. They even managed to forcefully manifest his wing, though it's hard to say what is left of that by now. He'll still give them nothing. Not give Rufus the satisfaction he's looking for.
That's all he really has control of now. His thoughts, dulled by the drugs, but it can't fully contain his rage. He's eternal after all. And when he's finally free he's going to burn the entire planet into nothing.]
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He'd accepted a couple of deliveries that would take him outside of Edge, hoping that time on the road would clear his head and give him the insight he was looking for. No such luck however. Once he comes back home, he still hasn't made up his mind.
He doesn't feel comfortable leaving Sephiroth in the hands of Rufus and the others for too long though. He's the only one who could stop Sephiroth should he get free somehow. It definitely feels better to be 100% sure where he is. Then again, if Sephiroth had gotten free, he's sure half the planet would be destroyed by now.
So he once again finds himself steering Fenrir towards the WRO headquarters. This time he's dropping by without prior notice, but no one seems particularly surprised to see him. Reno and Rude are still stationed outside of the lab, apparently having been assigned some sort of guard duty. They're not looking any happier about it than when Cloud saw them last. He doesn't feel much sympathy.
No one else is in the lab when he enters, and so he walks straight to Sephiroth's chamber. The sight that meets him... Cloud is quite appalled by it. His eyes are immediately drawn to the wing, broken and mangled, and he can't help but to wince. It seems that torture is Rufus' game here. ]
...You look like shit.
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... Did you expect any different? Are you even really here?
[He can't tell if the words came out sounding as disoriented as he currently feels. Everything is a mess. If Cloud did actually come back maybe he finally do something. Sephiroth is too worn down and drugged to attempt another manipulation tactic like he did before. If he lets his head clear a little maybe ...]
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[ Are you even really here? Something about that makes something tighten in his chest. It has to be bad if Sephiroth's questioning reality. And once again, too familiar. ]
I'm here.
[ He can't let this keep going on. Sephiroth has done awful things, but even he doesn't deserve to be tortured. Sephiroth seems weak enough now that he'd likely not pose a great threat...
Cloud heads over to a computer that's near the chamber. Sephiroth's vitals are being monitored on them. Cloud gives it a cursory glance - he's not an expert, but he can at least tell that Sephiroth's blood pressure is unhealthily low. At least it would be for a normal person...
He looks around until he finds what appears to be a mechanism to unlock the chamber, and with little hesitation, he makes use of it. Taking a deep breath, he steps inside. ]
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If he knew Cloud was feeling pity for him, he'd actually be annoyed. As much as he wants out of this situation, someone feeling sorry for him is offensive in some way. Probably his pride, though that is also rather wounded as well.
... Cloud seems to be real as far as he can tell at least.]
So you've finally decided then?
[Good. He fully expects Cloud to just kill him. Cast him back to the lifestream, where he can go back to formulating plans -- one that will probably have a minor detail of slowly killing Rufus next time around.]
I hope all your decision making doesn't take quite as long as this one.
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[ Seeing Sephiroth like this... He still doesn't want to kill him, not like this anyway, even if it'd be kind of like putting a suffering animal out of its misery, but... he can't let this keep happening either.
He eyes the wing again. It looks incredibly painful. ]
I'm not going to kill you. Not while you can't fight back, anyway. If you promise not to try anything, I'll get you out of here.
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[Cloud should know better. Though it's not like Sephiroth can do much of anything anyway as much as he wants to. And he should be happy Cloud is suggesting getting him out. Just like a good puppet should, but that probably goes back to his frustration over needing help in the first place. No matter how he tries to spin it in his head it goes back to how he can't get out of this on his own.
And that's very very annoying.]
If you fear for their lives, I will not promise I will not do anything later ... but at the moment their drugs are rather ... effective.
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Killing you's never worked permanently. You'd go to the Lifestream, come back, and probably try to kill everyone in this building anyway. I'd feel better being the one keeping an eye on you.
[ With that he gets close enough to start undoing the straps keeping Sephiroth trapped to the examination table. Once they're out of the way he takes a step back. He's ready to give Sephiroth a helping hand, since it looks like he needs it, but he has a feeling the other man is going to be offended if Cloud offers it. ]
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[An odd response, but whatever. Sephiroth huffs, but says nothing more. As soon as he's free to move he tries to get up. The keyword being tries.
He gets partway before he kind of just falls into Cloud. Which is probably very frustrating for the both of them.]
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Instead he starts to lead the taller man out of the chamber. He realises then that he hasn't thought of a way to get them out without being spotted by everyone in the building. Shit. He turns to Sephiroth. ]
You wouldn't happen to know about some other way out of here, would you?
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When the question comes, he can only give Cloud a look. He doesn't even remember being brought to this place, let alone its layout.]
For a hero, you're not very good at this sort of thing.
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Well, I wasn't expecting to mount a rescue mission when I got here.
[ He looks around until his gaze falls on a chair. He leads Sephiroth over to it and helps him sit down. ]
Wait here. I'll have a look around.
[ The lab is big, but it doesn't take too long for Cloud to notice an emergency exit. Jackpot. He returns to Sephiroth and wraps his arm around him again, helping him up. He nods in the direction of the exit. ]
Found our way out.
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They're going to consider you an enemy after this. You do realize that, yes?
[Partly why he doesn't understand why he's getting a 'rescue' ... If Cloud wanted to maintain his status he should have just killed him. This is going to cause Cloud problems, and Sephiroth cannot fully understand why -- other than him clinging to some misplaced pity. Which is another set of annoyances.
Still ... he can do nothing but lean heavily on the shorter man as they make their way towards the exit. What a strange course of events this has been.]
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I don't really care what Rufus and his minions think about me.
[ He's sure that Reeve and his other friends are going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they'll assume he's taking Sephiroth somewhere else to kill him. Hopefully they won't think that he's being controlled again. He'll have to make some phone calls later to reassure them.
He pushes the door open with his shoulder and enters into a stairwell. ]
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