Time ended up passing far more quickly than Sephiroth originally intended. Not that he can control time, but rather he did not expect to spend so much of it around his greatest nemesis.
Can he even call him that now?
Sure, the Cloud that was, is probably still buried somewhere beyond the shell that almost is an empty puppet this time around, but at the same time there's no animosity between them. Sephiroth still harbors a lot of intense feelings, but they're mostly caught in an unfamiliar whirlwind. This has left him distracted from his original goal.
It'd be easy to simply dispatch Cloud. End this. Go back to what he planned. But at the same time that's not at all what he wants. He tells himself it's because he wants Cloud to witness the end in all its glory, and what better irony than to have him at his side when it happens?
Yet he hasn't made any progress in his original plans either. He doesn't know why, but somehow that doesn't bother him as much as it should.
Instead the two of them are now standing in an open field, both brandishing weapons but without the intention of murdering one another. That's another form of irony all together.
But again he tells himself he needs to make sure Cloud keeps his strength. Give him the training (or at get his body to remember) on how to fight. Cloud is also very lucky that Sephiroth took his sword along with taking him originally.
"Do you remember what I showed you?"
In all honesty, Sephiroth has missed fighting. It's one of the few things he's always enjoyed. And Cloud is one of the few with the strength to match him head on. Of course, at the moment he'll have to go easy despite the temptation.
Life is odd. They're different, Sephiroth has explained, which means they're hunted. Unfortunately, it requires they move from place to place on occasion, not exactly often enough to be wanderers but often enough that no one house has felt like home. Cloud doesn't, can't, know it's because his friends eventually hone in. Instead of waiting to find them, he packs up beside a man that was once an enemy but that can no longer bear the title, not without those memories.
They're in a new place, a new 'home'. Time is limited here as well, Cloud knows, but they'll make the most of it. They train, they talk, Sephiroth disappears to do whatever he has to do, but he always comes back. At first, Cloud was full of questions, but they tapered off over time, as familiarity and a sense of realization settled in. This is his life, and nothing he's tried has been able to restore his memory.
It isn't a bad existence, even with the constant motion. It would be, if he'd been alone or with someone else, but Sephiroth has proven to be good company. Cloud's lucky to have someone so dedicated by his side. To save him, nurse him, and patiently answer his questions must be a chore, but it seems like Sephiroth doesn't falter. It's little wonder they've become close.
Today, they're training. Cloud's somewhat out of practice, but he can already feel his body remembering things his mind wishes it could recall. No matter; it can't, and so he has to learn it over again. Standing in front of Sephiroth, sword in front of him, Cloud has to marvel at the ease in which he can lift it. It's obvious he was an athletic man, but he also isn't especially tall or broad, and the sword is impressive in its size.
"Hands on the hilt, move with confidence. If you hesitate, you're giving the enemy a chance to move in. Strike with conviction, right?"
Had Sephiroth stopped and really thought about it, he'd realize just how much Cloud has managed to stall his plans by simply existing. He's a distraction. And yet Sephiroth has somehow fallen into line and returning to make sure his 'prize' is safe.
If anyone is going to kill Cloud, it will be him and him alone. And he's not about to allow his friends to get near either. Even if he doubts they'll bring Cloud any harm. They could trigger his memories. Something Sephiroth both wants to avoid and yet partially wants to happen.
It's complicated.
There's a small twitch of his lips. Who would ever dream he'd be teaching his biggest nemesis?
"I'm glad to know you've been listening. Now lets see if you're ready."
That's actually the only warning he gives before rushing at Cloud. And while in his current mental state, he probably could easily go for a lethal strike, he doesn't. He moves with the intention of knocking the sword out of the blond's grasp. In a way it's almost like a cat toying with a mouse, but at least Sephiroth is fully capable of fighting without bloodshed if he wishes to.
And Cloud is very lucky that is where their current relationship is at the moment. They can fight without the risk of death.
Even without his memories, Cloud isn't as easy as most would be, even for Sephiroth. The mako still pulses through his veins, and a lot of muscle memory is involved in training. The biggest detractor is his lack of confidence, which results in a much more defensive style than usual. Strikes are parried, and for the most part, his sword manages to stay in place, blocked each blow.
Still, it feels like he's losing ground. It's not something an untrained eye would notice, but Sephiroth's winning. You can't win through the defense, can you? Something in Cloud wants to win, and it's not for pride or the usual reasons. He wants to win because he doesn't want to disappoint Sephiroth; he wants to earn his approval instead. If they're two of a kind, Cloud can't have Sephiroth disappointed in the pairing.
When did it start to matter? It's impossible to choose an exact date and time. There's always been gratitude; how could there not be when Sephiroth has done so much for him? But, it's shifted to something else, something more complicated than appreciation. Normally, when his mind tries to dwell too much on the specifics, Cloud forces the thoughts away. It remains, nameless, lingering over him, like a dark cloud that threatens rain at every turn.
The fight. He really needs to focus on the fight if he has any hope of victory.
So, forcing confidence he doesn't feel yet, Cloud begins to try and return the strikes, arms moving quickly as the sword cuts through the air.
Sephiroth is hardly as aggressive as he could be in this fight, but even so he is glad this isn't easy. There'd be no enjoyment in that and it means there's less to teach. This shows that Cloud can at least hold his own without his memories. His strikes lack a certain assertiveness, but they can work on that later.
With the way he's fighting now, he'll be able to handle mostly anyone else on Gaia. Including his friends if it came down to it. An altercation Sephiroth still wishes to avoid. He doesn't need them triggering anything needlessly.
Sephiroth moves to lock their weapons together in an all too familiar clash. It's a force of strength and brings them rather close.
"Would you believe me if I told you that you have beaten me in a fight like this?"
Of course that fight was a far more lethal one where every strike was meant to cause serious harm. This one? Not so much. And far less theatrical.
And destructive. That last part mostly because large scale destruction draws attention. Something he does not need. Cloud also doesn't need to know all the messy details around their previous clashes.
Anyway, he mostly said that to gauge a reaction. Either inspire confidence or catch the blond off guard. Either would be an acceptable result in his mind.
They're close. The awareness of the other's body isn't a new one, but for now, Cloud pushes it out of his mind as inappropriate. He's never quite discovered what their previous relationship was, but he's begun to feel what the new relationship can be.
Perhaps.
Surprise is Sephiroth's reward. The pressure lightens up on his weapon; a mistake. It's the reaction of an experienced fighter, even if Cloud's body remembers much of its skill and his strength remains. Cloud was able to beat Sephiroth? He's not fooling himself into thinking he's the more skilled of the two at the moment. Awareness of the difference in their strength remains.
But why were they fighting? Practice?
"Did you train me before, too?"
Is that why his heart is beating faster than the physical exertion could explain? Did Cloud find himself falling for his teacher in his previous life as well? Isn't it ironic, how little seems to have changed?
Sephiroth almost finds himself laughing at the question. It's an appropriate conclusion for Cloud to make considering what little he knows. But it's also even more humorous taking into account how he never made it into SOLDIER.
If only Cloud knew.
Sephiroth has no plans on telling him though.
He continues to keep the pressure of his blade against Cloud's, but not so much to completely overpower him. It's a strange feeling to want to stay this close. To not deliver a blow knocking him across the field. He tells himself there are other reasons for this, that he doesn't want to damage his toy, but deep down he knows it's a little more than that.
Though he doesn't really know what to do about it.
Giving Cloud a small look before shaking it, he briefly wonders if his previous statement was a mistake. But surely he can still twist this around, right?
"No. But we still did fights much like this one."
Much bloodier and more vicious, but he's not completely telling a lie here.
"And I am not training you so much as helping your body remember what it already knows."
It's been a fine line these past few months. Cloud asks questions, which is always dangerous when the truth would not only separate them but pit them against one another again. Eventually, his questions slowed, and Cloud's mind naturally began to fill in bits and pieces. There'll always be a burning need to know who he was before, but the future's taken on an importance of its own.
There's a truth beneath Sephiroth's words; his body does seem much closer to remembering than his mind. Already, Cloud moves in ways that he doesn't fully understand, and his own speed and strength are often surprising. If he does enough familiar motions, will his memories follow? Normally, the question is at the forefront of his mind, but Sephiroth's proximity makes it difficult to focus on anything other than the thoughts that have recently developed.
What would Sephiroth do if they kissed? Push him away? It feels likely. Still, what if he didn't? If only Cloud could show him he was still strong, still capable, it wouldn't be such an embarrassing move. The silver-haired men has done so much for him since the amnesia stole his past. In spite of Sephiroth's strength, he's stayed by Cloud's side and somehow, Cloud knows strength would speak a lot.
The pressure against their sword increases just moments before he jumps back and lunges again. It's not the best move to make while distracted, but his mind remains with the previous musings.
Truth be told, Sephiroth is also highly distracted. The fight here helps keep him focused, but Cloud himself is the distraction. He always knew he'd be the center of it all, and that his thoughts would always wind there way back around, orbiting the blond-haired man like he's some sort of sun.
He just never realized how far those thoughts would go. How the ever looming shadow of Cloud gaining his memories bothers him like some sort of ghost. Cloud would eventually learn who he is and this will all be over. There's a part of Sephiroth that has slowly crept up over the months, a part that legitimately enjoys this companionship.
Of course Sephiroth won't admit to that. Not even to himself really. But it's there light a light above the shadow.
... His thoughts had drifted again when Cloud lunges. Snapping back to reality, he moves to parry the blow but it ended up awfully close. Too close. (Not that Sephiroth is worried, it's more of a pride thing.)
"You can do better than that."
Partly spoken to Cloud, partly to himself as a reminder to stop letting his own mind wander.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@soldierforhire | amnesia things
Can he even call him that now?
Sure, the Cloud that was, is probably still buried somewhere beyond the shell that almost is an empty puppet this time around, but at the same time there's no animosity between them. Sephiroth still harbors a lot of intense feelings, but they're mostly caught in an unfamiliar whirlwind. This has left him distracted from his original goal.
It'd be easy to simply dispatch Cloud. End this. Go back to what he planned. But at the same time that's not at all what he wants. He tells himself it's because he wants Cloud to witness the end in all its glory, and what better irony than to have him at his side when it happens?
Yet he hasn't made any progress in his original plans either. He doesn't know why, but somehow that doesn't bother him as much as it should.
Instead the two of them are now standing in an open field, both brandishing weapons but without the intention of murdering one another. That's another form of irony all together.
But again he tells himself he needs to make sure Cloud keeps his strength. Give him the training (or at get his body to remember) on how to fight. Cloud is also very lucky that Sephiroth took his sword along with taking him originally.
"Do you remember what I showed you?"
In all honesty, Sephiroth has missed fighting. It's one of the few things he's always enjoyed. And Cloud is one of the few with the strength to match him head on. Of course, at the moment he'll have to go easy despite the temptation.
no subject
They're in a new place, a new 'home'. Time is limited here as well, Cloud knows, but they'll make the most of it. They train, they talk, Sephiroth disappears to do whatever he has to do, but he always comes back. At first, Cloud was full of questions, but they tapered off over time, as familiarity and a sense of realization settled in. This is his life, and nothing he's tried has been able to restore his memory.
It isn't a bad existence, even with the constant motion. It would be, if he'd been alone or with someone else, but Sephiroth has proven to be good company. Cloud's lucky to have someone so dedicated by his side. To save him, nurse him, and patiently answer his questions must be a chore, but it seems like Sephiroth doesn't falter. It's little wonder they've become close.
Today, they're training. Cloud's somewhat out of practice, but he can already feel his body remembering things his mind wishes it could recall. No matter; it can't, and so he has to learn it over again. Standing in front of Sephiroth, sword in front of him, Cloud has to marvel at the ease in which he can lift it. It's obvious he was an athletic man, but he also isn't especially tall or broad, and the sword is impressive in its size.
"Hands on the hilt, move with confidence. If you hesitate, you're giving the enemy a chance to move in. Strike with conviction, right?"
no subject
If anyone is going to kill Cloud, it will be him and him alone. And he's not about to allow his friends to get near either. Even if he doubts they'll bring Cloud any harm. They could trigger his memories. Something Sephiroth both wants to avoid and yet partially wants to happen.
It's complicated.
There's a small twitch of his lips. Who would ever dream he'd be teaching his biggest nemesis?
"I'm glad to know you've been listening. Now lets see if you're ready."
That's actually the only warning he gives before rushing at Cloud. And while in his current mental state, he probably could easily go for a lethal strike, he doesn't. He moves with the intention of knocking the sword out of the blond's grasp. In a way it's almost like a cat toying with a mouse, but at least Sephiroth is fully capable of fighting without bloodshed if he wishes to.
And Cloud is very lucky that is where their current relationship is at the moment. They can fight without the risk of death.
no subject
Still, it feels like he's losing ground. It's not something an untrained eye would notice, but Sephiroth's winning. You can't win through the defense, can you? Something in Cloud wants to win, and it's not for pride or the usual reasons. He wants to win because he doesn't want to disappoint Sephiroth; he wants to earn his approval instead. If they're two of a kind, Cloud can't have Sephiroth disappointed in the pairing.
When did it start to matter? It's impossible to choose an exact date and time. There's always been gratitude; how could there not be when Sephiroth has done so much for him? But, it's shifted to something else, something more complicated than appreciation. Normally, when his mind tries to dwell too much on the specifics, Cloud forces the thoughts away. It remains, nameless, lingering over him, like a dark cloud that threatens rain at every turn.
The fight. He really needs to focus on the fight if he has any hope of victory.
So, forcing confidence he doesn't feel yet, Cloud begins to try and return the strikes, arms moving quickly as the sword cuts through the air.
no subject
With the way he's fighting now, he'll be able to handle mostly anyone else on Gaia. Including his friends if it came down to it. An altercation Sephiroth still wishes to avoid. He doesn't need them triggering anything needlessly.
Sephiroth moves to lock their weapons together in an all too familiar clash. It's a force of strength and brings them rather close.
"Would you believe me if I told you that you have beaten me in a fight like this?"
Of course that fight was a far more lethal one where every strike was meant to cause serious harm. This one? Not so much. And far less theatrical.
And destructive. That last part mostly because large scale destruction draws attention. Something he does not need. Cloud also doesn't need to know all the messy details around their previous clashes.
Anyway, he mostly said that to gauge a reaction. Either inspire confidence or catch the blond off guard. Either would be an acceptable result in his mind.
no subject
Perhaps.
Surprise is Sephiroth's reward. The pressure lightens up on his weapon; a mistake. It's the reaction of an experienced fighter, even if Cloud's body remembers much of its skill and his strength remains. Cloud was able to beat Sephiroth? He's not fooling himself into thinking he's the more skilled of the two at the moment. Awareness of the difference in their strength remains.
But why were they fighting? Practice?
"Did you train me before, too?"
Is that why his heart is beating faster than the physical exertion could explain? Did Cloud find himself falling for his teacher in his previous life as well? Isn't it ironic, how little seems to have changed?
no subject
If only Cloud knew.
Sephiroth has no plans on telling him though.
He continues to keep the pressure of his blade against Cloud's, but not so much to completely overpower him. It's a strange feeling to want to stay this close. To not deliver a blow knocking him across the field. He tells himself there are other reasons for this, that he doesn't want to damage his toy, but deep down he knows it's a little more than that.
Though he doesn't really know what to do about it.
Giving Cloud a small look before shaking it, he briefly wonders if his previous statement was a mistake. But surely he can still twist this around, right?
"No. But we still did fights much like this one."
Much bloodier and more vicious, but he's not completely telling a lie here.
"And I am not training you so much as helping your body remember what it already knows."
no subject
There's a truth beneath Sephiroth's words; his body does seem much closer to remembering than his mind. Already, Cloud moves in ways that he doesn't fully understand, and his own speed and strength are often surprising. If he does enough familiar motions, will his memories follow? Normally, the question is at the forefront of his mind, but Sephiroth's proximity makes it difficult to focus on anything other than the thoughts that have recently developed.
What would Sephiroth do if they kissed? Push him away? It feels likely. Still, what if he didn't? If only Cloud could show him he was still strong, still capable, it wouldn't be such an embarrassing move. The silver-haired men has done so much for him since the amnesia stole his past. In spite of Sephiroth's strength, he's stayed by Cloud's side and somehow, Cloud knows strength would speak a lot.
The pressure against their sword increases just moments before he jumps back and lunges again. It's not the best move to make while distracted, but his mind remains with the previous musings.
no subject
He just never realized how far those thoughts would go. How the ever looming shadow of Cloud gaining his memories bothers him like some sort of ghost. Cloud would eventually learn who he is and this will all be over. There's a part of Sephiroth that has slowly crept up over the months, a part that legitimately enjoys this companionship.
Of course Sephiroth won't admit to that. Not even to himself really. But it's there light a light above the shadow.
... His thoughts had drifted again when Cloud lunges. Snapping back to reality, he moves to parry the blow but it ended up awfully close. Too close. (Not that Sephiroth is worried, it's more of a pride thing.)
"You can do better than that."
Partly spoken to Cloud, partly to himself as a reminder to stop letting his own mind wander.