[ It's hard to look into those eyes and not see the roaring fires of Nibelheim. It's even harder still to not see them as they were, as Zack swore to himself that he would always remember them, when they would inherit just a touch of his smile, a likely involuntary thing Zack managed to work out of him from time to time. If only he'd known the right thing to say then. If only those eyes had been looking at him the way they are now, deep and receptive. But if there's one thing that Zack can be certain of at the end of this long and harrowing journey, it's that you can't change the past. He keeps the Buster Sword raised.
One step forward. The things Sephiroth is saying don't make sense. The tone is off. He sounds like... Don't think about it. He called Zack a traitor. There was Tifa, poor, poor sweet little Tifa... And Cloud. This is all his fault.
Another step. Blood drums on the sand like rainfall. The world is spinning round and round. "And then what?" he'd asked. "Fail to eliminate them." Zack laughs right along with the memory. Keeps laughing, even as he falls to his knees, slumping against the broad side of his sword. Fuck, he can't stop laughing. It's like that first night in Nibelheim all over again, staying up all night with Cloud and having delirious gigglefits over nothing really funny until they both passed out against the headboard. Hurts to laugh, still can't stop. At least he's gonna die with a smile on his face.
Oh, but Sephiroth doesn't get it, does he? It's their inside joke, but he's not laughing, so maybe he doesn't remember. He's so out of juice by the time he scrounges up the strength to look up again that the mako glow in his eyes has dimmed to nothing. Just before he passes out, he manages to deliver the punchline, breathless and wheezing and still laughing: ]
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One step forward. The things Sephiroth is saying don't make sense. The tone is off. He sounds like... Don't think about it. He called Zack a traitor. There was Tifa, poor, poor sweet little Tifa... And Cloud. This is all his fault.
Another step. Blood drums on the sand like rainfall. The world is spinning round and round. "And then what?" he'd asked. "Fail to eliminate them." Zack laughs right along with the memory. Keeps laughing, even as he falls to his knees, slumping against the broad side of his sword. Fuck, he can't stop laughing. It's like that first night in Nibelheim all over again, staying up all night with Cloud and having delirious gigglefits over nothing really funny until they both passed out against the headboard. Hurts to laugh, still can't stop. At least he's gonna die with a smile on his face.
Oh, but Sephiroth doesn't get it, does he? It's their inside joke, but he's not laughing, so maybe he doesn't remember. He's so out of juice by the time he scrounges up the strength to look up again that the mako glow in his eyes has dimmed to nothing. Just before he passes out, he manages to deliver the punchline, breathless and wheezing and still laughing: ]
Mission... hn— failed...
[ And then darkness. ]