jukeboxhound_backup | fic: living chemical child (ffvii/fma)

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fic: living chemical child (ffvii/fma)

~~I need an FMA icon. >: (~~ Done! Cropped and manip'ed from this fanart. Free for the taking.

Living Chemical Child
VII. Fire.
Main post.

Main Pairing: Established Sephiroth/Zack/Cloud
Canon: FFVII (original game only) + Fullmetal Alchemist
Rating/Warnings: Light R - alchemical torture (naturally), some sexuality, meandering thoughts on alchemy and philosophy, general unhappiness.
Summary: It wasn't like Hojo had left clear instructions on how to reverse a sacrifice to the Gate. Unbetaed.

Word Count: 1,357
Note: Two scenes, one set just after the war and the other after Ed became a National Alchemist.

VII. Fire.

(n.): Fire is the highest of the four Essential Elements, the
Rarefied Air closest to the Lunar Gate of the Heavens.
It is the Element of the Soul, ambition, and power.

The polished marble and swept cobblestone of Central shone in the noon sunlight as brightly as if it had just been built. The grand steps in front of Central Command were lined with soldiers that led up to the dais, where the white dragon of Amestris flew on a silk banner. Uniforms were crisp, boots polished, hair slicked or pinned back, and all Sephiroth could feel was disgust.

He'd already had the ceremony formalizing his new rank, so he stood with the other generals ranging on the right side of the Fuhrer. This was to honor the heroes of the war, the brave men and women that had distinguished themselves in defending the life and liberty of Amestris. Never mind that thousands of other Amestrian men and women had been killed in rage and terror and mindless violence. Never mind that an entire people had been slaughtered. But people must suffer for others to shine. People may have died, but others demonstrated the valor and strength that they wouldn't have otherwise.

So said the Fuhrer after Sephiroth had pointed out those little details. The needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few, General. These ideas of individualism undermine the functionality of a society.

But surely compassion –

Is there something in particular you have in mind, General? the Fuhrer had asked, and though the man had been smiling there was something that made Sephiroth's skin crawl. So he replied, No, I'm merely disconcerted by being back in a city after the frontlines, and the Fuhrer clapped him on the back and said, Understandable, Sephiroth, entirely understandable.

The sunlight was hot against the dark blue wool of his uniform. Sephiroth watched as each name was called, followed by a short rendition of the national anthem as the man or woman shook hands with the Fuhrer and the generals, and each person seemed to be either dazed or flushed with excitement. I fought for my country and my country is honoring that, they were no doubt thinking – except Sephiroth wanted to say no, not this time, this is just Bradley's politics and Bradley's schemes and Bradley's lies.

It took him a moment to realize that the Fuhrer's good eye was narrowed ever so slightly. He followed Bradley's line of sight to the soldier next in line to be called.

"The Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang!"

Mustang walked up the long steps with casual grace, as calm as the Fuhrer himself.

"For outstanding courage," began the Fuhrer, but Sephiroth was more interested in Mustang's expression. He was attentive, but there was none of the thrill that was in the other soldiers, no anxiety, no awe at being face to face with the Fuhrer and his generals. Just resolve, or perhaps determination. And obviously Bradley sees it.

Newly promoted to Colonel – two ranks higher than when he'd been sent out to Ishbal – and with ribbons of campaign and service, Mustang held himself still as General Raven pinned the silver dragon emblem onto his lapel. He shook hands with the generals. Each general said something along the lines of congratulations, you're an asset to our nation, you have a bright future ahead of you, but when Sephiroth took his hand, he said softly, "Thank you for saving the people that you could. It was an honor to serve with you."

Dark almond eyes widened briefly before Mustang could help himself, and then he smiled wryly, a little bitterly. "Thank you, General."

His grip was firm, his spine straight, his expression as calm as a pool of water. Sephiroth had no ambition of his own, could care less about promotion, but that didn't mean he was above the battlefield of politics.

I wonder what change this Mustang is determined to make.

…

One of the last people Roy expected to see in the officers' bar was General Sephiroth. The man sat alone at the end of the counter, given a wide berth by the other patrons and surprisingly free of Lieutenant Fair's company.

Making a snap decision Roy casually strode over and took the seat beside Sephiroth. He couldn't deny that the general was intimidating, aloof and watchful, tall and renowned for both his alchemical and physical prowess. Even now he wore his gloves, black with a stitched white array that had some sort of basis in both air and earth, but since Roy rarely took off his own he couldn't really criticize.

"Good evening, General," he said, motioning for a drink. The barkeeper slid over a glass of whiskey.

There was a pause. "Good evening, Colonel."

A companionable silence passed as each took a sip of their respective drink.

"How are your men?" Sephiroth asked.

"They're well. I can honestly say that I'm lucky to have been assigned the people I have."

"I've heard that you have recently taken a twelve-year-old boy under your command."

"Indeed," Roy replied smoothly, mind racing through all the possible things the general might be thinking. "Fullmetal is considered a genius in alchemy."

From the corner of his eye he saw a rueful smile flicker over Sephiroth's face. "He'll have quite a time in the military, but I imagine that you will do your best to ease his way."

Hoping to manipulate Fullmetal somehow? The boy was hardly discrete in his talent, after all, and if anyone could manage to control him then he would be controlling an effective weapon. Suspicion of sexual abuse? Inevitable, when such a young child was taken into service. Public face? No doubt Sephiroth knew the newspapers would eat up the story of a poor lost boy being guided by the benevolent military. This wouldn't be the first time that Roy had had to face other officers eyeing who they thought was an impressionable young genius.

"Relax, Colonel," said Sephiroth, his normally flat voice tinged with amusement. "It was idle curiosity, nothing more."

"I never thought otherwise." Friendly tone. Sip of whiskey. Discrete attention to the general's body language and words. Sephiroth's a bit of an odd duck, Hughes had told him. He's got some eyes and ears in Intelligence – and you wouldn't believe how long it took me to figure out it was Tseng, it's embarrassing – but there's no indication of him abusing his power, no cover-up, no scandal. The only vaguely unusual thing was his demand to the Fuhrer himself that Lieutenant Fair be transferred to his command after the war.

Sephiroth leaned on his elbow and looked at Roy from the corner of his eyes, so green they almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the bar.

"As a wise man once told me, General, men like us carry the weight of the world's sins so that others may remain innocent," Roy said softly. And that was the crux of the matter, wasn't it? In Rizembool Roy had seen a child with the eyes of a soldier and there was something…wrongwith that, as though all his sacrifices during the Ishbal war had been for nothing. Of course there was ambition and a kind of weapons acquisition in having the Fullmetal Alchemist under his command, and by his extension his just-as-genius brother, but Roy could admit to himself with brutal honesty that there was also an element of redemption.

Without taking his gaze off Roy, Sephiroth idly swirled the whiskey in his own glass and murmured, "Few people are able to shoulder such responsibility and not break beneath it. It is important, therefore, to support those few for the sake of the innocent."

Then Sephiroth drained his glass, dropped some cenz on the counter, and stood up with a half-smile. "I always come away from your company with something to think about, Colonel. Have a good night."

He swept out of the bar and left Roy staring down into his drink, wondering what the hell he was supposed to think about potentially having the support of a man like Sephiroth.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Every bit of this that you post makes me love it just that much more.

That really does make me happy. (And breathe a sigh of relief...)

ROY AND SEPHIROTH. LOVE. SO MUCH LOVE.

<3<3<3<3<3<3

Hughes mini monologue might have been my favorite part. Besides the last sentence. That also made me grin like a loon.

I always bounce when I find an update to this story. I just finished the manga and Brotherhood so I am in an FMA kick at the moment. This is just feeding the fire.

I'M HONESTLY SORT OF TEMPTED TO WRITE SEPHIROTH/ROY JUST TO SEE IF I COULD. But I couldn't do that to Zack and Cloud because my personal canon says that he's theirs and no amount of pretty bedroom eyes from Roy is gonna change that. (He needs to save it for when Ed gets older, anyway. <3) BUT THE POSSIBILITIES.

I haven't decided where in the FMA timeline the main plot takes place, but I couldn't bear to part with Hughes. ;__;

I WOULD READ THAT. A MILLION BILLION TIMES EVERY NIGHT BEFORE I GO TO BED. Roy can never have too much practice with his Bedroom Eyes. Ever.

<3

Dude, when worse comes to worst, just shove them all together. Orgies fix everything don't you know? : B

HUGHES IS ALIVE?! I WAS TOO MUCH OF A CHICKEN SHIT TO ASK IF HE HAD PASSED ALREADY. BECAUSE I CRY EVERY TIME I SEE HIS DEATH SCENE AND THEN AGAIN AT THE FUNERAL. There is too much love and awesomeness in him for me to be able to part with him willingly without a billion tears.

OH HAI, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT ME? BECAUSE YOUR SOLUTION IS TOTALLY LOOKING LIKE WHAT MY SOLUTION IS. IF IN DOUBT, ORGY TIME! <3

*roots around* Aye, he's in this (http://hadesphoenix.livejournal.com/198199.html), which is set in current events. Because Hughes is freaking amazing.

I DUNNO HOW I'D REALISTICALLY GET SEPHIROTH AND ZACK AND MAYBE CLOUD INTO BED WITH ROY OR AT LEAST AS REALISTICALLY AS CROSSOVER SLASH CAN BE. I'M ALSO CHICKENSHIT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING SMUT BECAUSE BLOOD AND TORTURE AND VIOLENCE IS EASY BUT THE WRITING OF SMUT MAKES ME BLUSH LIEK WOAH. 'Course, could do the whole 'try to feel like a human again' thing during the Ishbal war, but I don't really want to go there. Hmm. Then again, it'd be the first Sephiroth/(Zack/Cloud)Roy smut of like ever, I think, but gaaaaah I dunno. STOP GIVING ME CHALLENGES, DIN, YOU KNOW AN ARIES CAN'T RESIST THOSE.

[/mental vomit]

PFFT. IT'D TOTALLY BE ZACK'S FAULT. IT'S ALWAYS ZACK'S FAULT, EXCEPT WHEN IT ISN'T. THEN IT'S AERIS'. AND SINCE SHE'S NOT HERE (nooooo!), IT'S ALWAYS ZACK'S FAULT.

!YES. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THINKS THAT GROUP SEX FIXES EVERYTHING!

\O/

IT IS ALWAYS ZACKS FAULT. WHEN SOMETHING RIDICULOUS HAPPENS EVERYONE LOOKS AT HIM. : D

Also. There is always a first time for everything, and I think this is the time for some Sephiroth/(Zack/Cloud)Roy smut. Because I just realized that I have been waiting for it all my life and am sad that it hasn't happened yet.

You don't even need a build up, or actually need to write porn. Just reading about the morning after would be acceptable. Perfectly acceptable.

Roy: *sitting on edge of bed* *unsettled but trying not to show it*
Zack: Dude, last night was awesome. LET'S DO IT AGAIN. AND THEN AGAIN. >:3
Roy: ...
Sephiroth: *silently amused at Roy*
Cloud: I'll go make some coffee.
Roy: How can you just...
Cloud: *confused* What?
Roy: You're...taking this awfully well. (For a kid, he didn't say.)
Cloud: ...Why wouldn't I?
Zack: *guffaws*
Sephiroth: You really can't ever argue with him, Mustang.
Cloud: *still confused*
Roy: You're really not bothered.
Cloud: Um. I know it isn't exactly normal but that's okay, right, I mean I think everyone enjoyed themselves, and I thought you liked coffee?
Roy: You're very...pragmatic, aren't you?
Cloud: ...Thank you?
Zack: *dying of lulz*
Sephiroth: *smug*

\O/

YES. A THOUSAND TIMES YES.

You have my everlasting love and affection. Forever.

Cloud would make coffee and breakfast for everyone. <3 And Seph gets to show off his ~~awesome house wife and couch potato husband~~ soldiers. :B

My life is now complete. Thank you.

I have snerked a mighty snerk.

I strongly suspect Zack got Roy drunk, convinced Cloud that Roy needed some manly snuggles, and Cloud made eyes at Seph until he agreed.

Sephiroth: *waits until Cloud is out of the room* *to Roy* You will not be stealing him, he is our soldier.
Roy: ... *confused*
Zack: *cheerfully* Find your own loyal soldiers. <3

Cloud: Oh shit!
Everyone: *freezes*
Cloud: What's Fullmetal gonna say?
Roy: I can think of many things, but to which in particular are you referring?
Zack: *mutters* Trust you to speak without putting a preposition at the end like normal people.
Cloud: Didn't you know?
Roy: Again, what in particular should I know?
Cloud: He likes you!
Zack: Oh, this'll be good.
Sephiroth: *watching the action unfold*
Roy: *blink*
Cloud: Oh shit, he's gonna be pissed, I mean, I knew but we still - it's not like people don't know about you -
Zack: LOL MANSLUT
Roy: *wry* Thank you, Lieutenant.
Cloud: - but still we...oh. Shit. You didn't know, did you?
Roy: *...slow feline smile*
Cloud: *headdesk*
Zack: *iz ded from lulz*

LOL. Now I picture Cloud sending Ed "I'm sorry" flowers. Or something, idk.

Or real Nibelheim shepherds pies, made of kidneys and blood and stomach lining all proper-like, and then wonder why everyone's gagging as Ed plows through them like a gluttonous glutton.

YES. And Cloud totally made enough for everyone else to have some if they wanted, but nobody seems to want any, so hey, that's more for Cloud and Ed, right? ~~And when Zack turns down food, you know something's up...~~

But Ed doesn't care because hey, free food, and Zack's all shrug-y because they eat weirder shit in the jungle, right. Except when Ed's licking the last pan clean he's gonna pause and go, Wait. Waaaaait. YOU FUCKING TOLD THE FUCKING COLONEL BASTARD, to which Sephiroth would smirk and say, Freudian slip there, Fullmetal? Little mistake? And then Ed’s gonna be all DIE MOTHERFUCKER DIE.

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