001 || come hold my hand through the night.

[lottato_prima]

[A full day afterwards, and you'd think he'd learn by now to stay still. But guess what? He's not listening to any of you! Because he's sitting over the edge of the bed, now that the Sleep spell finally wore off, holding the... comm-shell thing in one hand. He still looks exhausted as all hell, though he's managing a small smile through it all.]

...Cloud. Cloud, can you hear me?

[Definately sounds like he hasn't rested enough.

The SOLDIER gives a weak laugh, shaking his head and allowing his bangs to wave in front of his face.]

Prolly not.

I'm... lookin' for someone. Cloud Strife. Blonde hair, may or may not be completely comatose.

Dunno where we are, but... whoever brought us here. Thanks.

[Giving a hoarse cough, he turns away from the feed a minute to catch his breath, just before turning back and resuming his demeanor.]

Gonna take a look around. Ping if you can tell me anything.

Comments

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I'm alright. Just a little drained, is all.

[He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, still giving Sephiroth that curious look.]

I... can't help but say how familiar you look, man.

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

All the more reason for you to continue resting.

[It hurts some that the man doesn't apparently remember him, but it doesn't show.]

We used to work together back home on Gaia.

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[The younger SOLDIER rests a hand to his head, carefully trying to sort through his... 'glitchy' memories. He can see visions of... things. People. Someone talking to him, over someone else's death. He can see a discussion about how the Firsts are usually treated, about Lazard's departure. A battle against a Dual Horn in the middle of a field. But they're brief, fleeting, and gone the second they pop into his head.

A white haze is over the man's face, blurred completely out of focus even with his presence right next to him.]

In... SOLDIER. We were friends.

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[A short nod.]

Yes.

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

I... I can't make out more than that. [He clenches his eyes shut, the hand upon his head pressing down even more firm.] Feels like my skull's gonna split open.

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

Don't force it then, if it's going to come back, it'll come back in due time.

[A subtle almost perhaps teasing? look enters the general's eyes as he continues.]

It might help if you actually tried to rest properly without having the matter forced on you. Your body needs rest...perhaps it's trying to tell you to take care of yourself.

[The look fades into something more serious.] You can rest here without worrying about your safety I promise you. There's no company presence here in this city...you need not concern yourself over them.

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[He blinks a moment, then his bright blue eyes widen as he turns toward the silver-haired man, ignoring the dull throb in the back of his head.]

Wait... how did you--?

How'd you know about that? This could've been from anything.

Re: [Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[A slight tilt of the head was the only sign that he's not quite certain what got that reaction from Zack, but he tries to think of what the other man might mean by those questions.]

You don't remember me, obviously whatever happened to you before your arrival caused you considerable enough trauma to render your memory fuzzy and unreliable currently.

[There's a small pause.]

As for the company...we both know well enough how they treat those who go MIA on them.

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

Well, I know that, but...

How'd you know it was the Company after me in the first place...? I don't think I said anything.

[Unless he really was that out of it when he arrived. In which case... oops?]

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

Ah. Cloud told me during an earlier conversation that you went MIA from the company with him.

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[...riiiight. He should've figured Cloud would at least say something about it. He smiles softly, leaning back a little in his position, turning to better look at Sephiroth.]

So you knew right from the get-go. [Not accusing in the least. If anything, he sounds a little... amused.] Welp. ...this's awkward.

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[Oh if you could only know just what your friend told the general..]

Yes... all three of us went MIA around the same time he told me. I should have joined you and Cloud after you two left...perhaps things wouldn't have happened as he said they did if I had...

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

...you weren't with us? [It's... vague, but he can't see the man during any of their excursions. So he assumes he didn't come. But then again, Zack's memory isn't the most reliable of things at the moment...]

Why not? Were you tryin' to hide or somethin'?

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

I don't know.

I only know that we went MIA at the same time due to Cloud telling me about it. I can only think we left separately due to the fact he told me you...[He cut himself off there, not wanting to tell the man he had died. Perhaps now would be the best time to tell him about the time issues..]

This place is capable of pulling people from different points in time actually. From my point in time...we've only recently lost Angeal and captured Hollander.

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[It's when Sephiroth trails off that Zack feels his heart plummet in his chest, his eyes widening in a mixture of curiousity and uncertainty.]

I... what? What'd I do? [By now, injuries by damned, he's spinning around to grab the other man's shoulders, giving him a firm shake.] What did I do?

[It was something that caused Cloud to leave, perhaps sometime after he'd finally finished off that army and gotten help - gotten them both help - or before that, that he just wasn't remembering. But he had to know!]

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[He reached up to capture both of Zack's wrists, gently, in an attempt to free himself from the other man's grasp. While the urge to deny him the answer is there, Zack could possibly hear it from Cloud later on after all.. he had the feeling the other man wouldn't leave him alone on the issue until he finally answered his question.]

.....you...died.

[The words were spoken low and soft as if their lack of volume would help to ease the blow they would have on the other man.]

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Zack is frozen in place, eerily still when the words finally slam into his head, making the migraine worse. But he didn't care. Not now not when...

He... died? When? How? It shouldn't have been that hard, right? That army wasn't any match for him! ...or maybe it was, and he was still living in ridiculous fantasies.]

...w... what?

[He'd heard you fine, Seph. It still tumbles out, nonetheless.]

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[He didn't want to release Zack's wrists, the physical contact was an affirmation that Zack was actually here before him and alive. He could feel the other man's pulse in the wrists, it was quietly reassuring and part of why he continued to hold onto the other man.]

I don't know how it happens....I only know that it happened in Cloud's past. [The words and our future. go unspoken.]

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[The shock melds into something a little... quieter this time, a numb nod his best response against words that were tearing through his mind, threatening to rip it apart. And Cloud... oh gods, Cloud. Was he awake to see it?

...he hoped not. Maybe... someone had found him, taken him in, given an excuse for Zack's disappearance. Until he learned the real truth, of course. That would have had to happen eventually.]

We're... supposed to be friends. Right? [So this guy hadn't seen it. But he still knew.] ...I'm... sorry, you had to find that out. I knew what I was gettin' into, but I thought it'd turn out okay.

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[He lets go of Zack's wrists and quietly folds his arms across his chest.]

Yes, we were friends during my time. [He pauses, watching the other man quietly for a moment before finally speaking again.] Perhaps...this might teach you to try and not bite off more than you can actually chew in the future?

[Yes, Zack... the man is trying his best to lighten the depressing mood which has descend on them. Thus he's teasing you..]

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Zack slowly, hesitantly lets go, allowing himself to relax on the bed. His sudden outburst was fading now, bringing back that uncomfortable throbbing up and down his torso. He winces once, but is able to smile back.]

I wouldn't be me if I didn't, yeah?

[And that gets a playful punch to the shoulder, his bright blue eyes meeting those catlike pinpricks.]

An' I kept Cloud alive, so that's a bonus.

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[There's a slight bit of humor now in those feline-like eyes at the jest and he gives the pup a nod.]

Indeed.

Is there anything else you feel the need to ask or can I convince you to actually rest now?

[Action]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

...actually.

How is it that the other-me knows you?

[Action]

[glorious-mercy.livejournal.com]

[He really hadn't thought of that, since most of his attention had been on this Zack during the recent near-death event that Zack's arrival had turned into. But considering the already strange nature of how this place treated death and time, he suppose it shouldn't really surprise him it was capable of producing doubles.]

I..don't know actually. I'm just as mystified about him as you are.

[Action] - aaaand this is why i should not type first thing coming home.;;

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[It's a curious conundrum, even with the knowledge that his twin might not even be as similiar as he originally thought. He holds a hand to his chin, debating this turn of events.]

How... exactly are we pulled in here? I'm thinkin' he might not be a double, exactly, but a part'a me I'm just not rememberin' right now.

Or somethin' the city made up. He knows you, but you don't know him...