Chapter Text
Sephiroth began to have strange dreams. They started soon after his first mission ever as Soldier. At first he stood in the middle of a burning village. Simply taking it all in, doing nothing as people perished in the flames.
Then after this dream, there were subtle changes. He was taller, his uniform vastly different. His hair so much longer. The sword in his hand wasn't Soldier standard. And there he stood as before, watching the flames consume the village and its people.
The dream after these changes held another surprise. Sephiroth sensed another presence. Someone was here with him. Behind him. Sephiroth slowly turned, from his peripheral vision he caught sight of another person. He paused, for some reason Sephiroth felt that he shouldn't fully turn around.
The figure wore all black. One shoulder guard with something glinting on it from the flames around them. Sephiroth wasn't certain, but he believed the other man had blond hair. Possibly short?
When Sephiroth gathered the courage to turn to take in the man's appearance fully, he woke up. This time he was frustrated. He could ignore the first dreams, blaming on the first mission. But the ones with changes had no explanation.
That morning Sephiroth stared at the mirror as he brushed his teeth. He recalled how vividly his hair was so long in the dream. The way it swayed as the air shifted from the heat. The weight of the weapon in his hand wasn't familiar, and yet somehow it was?
And that man, who was he? Sephiroth tried to recall everyone he met with blond hair. None of them held the threatening presence that stranger had in the dream. And certainly no one wore one shoulder guard.
With little to do until the next mission, Sephiroth sat in the lounge and pulled out his personal sketchbook. This old and worn sketchbook held the records of his dreams. A few he redone when his skills improved. Sephiroth drew them in a means to process, for each dream he had were strange.
This one took two pages side by side. One was himself with long hair. Sephiroth was uncertain on details of his outfit, so for now he drew himself with Soldier First uniform. In his hand was an elongated blade, guessing from the weight he felt in his hand in the dream.
The flames around the figure were bright. Sephiroth even pulled out his colored pencils to reiterate how bright they were. It set a different tone compared to the simple sketch of himself with a regular pen.
When Sephiroth was satisfied with this page, he moved onto the next one. The flames continued into this page. So he started with those first. When it came to the figure, for once Sephiroth was stumped. He had the basic lines to give shape into a person. Yet he couldn't give a face.
The figure in black with one shoulder guard stood with a blank face. If one weren't looking closely, this person looked headless. And Sephiroth grew frustrated the longer he tried to recall any details from the dream to give life to the figure.
"You have amazing talent." Someone compliments, nearly startling Sephiroth.
He had been concentrating so hard that he hadn't noticed two others approached. Sephiroth studied them with surprise at having been snuck upon. They appeared to be the same age and rank as himself.
One had red hair, and morning blue sky eyes. He had a lithe build, yet to grow into adulthood. His long legs gave the impression he would be quite tall in the end. This was the one who complimented, for he was studying the sketchbook with growing curiosity.
The other was of the same height, but his frame was broad. His chest alone looked like it could hold Sephiroth's inside. He also had muscles beginning to take shape from training. This Soldier had black hair and kind mid afternoon blue eyes.
"Thanks...?" Sephiroth blinked, remembering his manners.
"Oh, forgive ourselves." The dark haired Soldier ran a hand through his hair. "My name is Angeal. This is Genesis. We didn't mean to disturb you."
"No, it's fine. You simply startled me. My name is Sephiroth." He assured as he made a point to relax at least on the outside. Deep down Sephiroth was disturbed how he never noticed their presence.
"What are these sketches about?" Genesis inquired, still admiring the work.
"My dreams. I have strange dreams when I do have them. Someone taught me that to process them better, I can draw them out. This is the latest set." Sephiroth explained.
"Huh. I was taught to write them out. But drawing about dreams gives a better visual." Genesis studied the figures. "Who are these people in this dream?"
"Genesis - " Angeal didn't want to intrude into a private matter.
"It's fine." Sephiroth fully relaxed this time. He had kept these dreams to himself for so long, maybe it was time to have an ear to listen. Another perspective.
"This is me. In the dream I was older. I was staring at a village as it burned." Sephiroth pointed at the one representing himself.
"Long hair?" Genesis raised a brow.
"It's always a fight to cut my hair. It hurts no matter what they do." Sephiroth shrugged.
"To be honest I would have grown mine out a long time ago if my hair was that sensitive." Genesis tilts his head.
"And who is this?" The redhead pointed at the faceless figure.
"I... I don't know." Sephiroth admits. "In the dream I sensed someone behind me. I turn partway and stopped when he's in my peripheral vision. I felt a sense of...terror? I've never really been scared like that before. As if we were enemies."
"You didn't get a full look at him?" Genesis studied the figure in question.
"No. When I gathered the courage to look, I woke up. This is all I remember from what I seen." Sephiroth hated that he had nothing to show for this sketch.
"Maybe another Soldier? The shoulder guard suggests it." Genesis pondered.
"But why one? The standard issue is to wear two." Angeal pointed out.
"Perhaps he walked away from his career? That would signify he doesn't hate his origins, but place himself differently." The redhead guessed.
"Maybe that explains why you felt threatened. If he's an outcast by choice or not, he would still be a threat." Angeal added.
"Have your dreams ever come true?" Genesis was genuinely curious.
"Not really? When I was younger the dreams were scary. When I started drawing them out those stopped. This one stands out, though. I've never imagined myself with long hair before." And now Sephiroth wanted to grow it out.
In the dream it felt a sense of freedom as it swayed. And in some way, Sephiroth wondered if his hair being long was similar to his mother's. From the only photograph he has, it likely is. Maybe he can finally have a connection to her.
Sephiroth's PHS beeps. He checks, seeing a sudden mission being sent to him. Apparently someone sabatoged the construction of the mako reactor in North Corel.
Why a Soldier? This is Turk work. Sephiroth checked the details. Apparently he will be going with Tseng and a few Troopers. A Soldier's presence was requested in case of terrorists.
Sephiroth accepted. Given his ratings of his previous mission, might as well take up this offer. When he accepted it was apparent that he will be going immediately.
"Forgive me, it seems I'm needed." Sephiroth closed his sketchbook.
"Want to exchange contact information before you leave? We could use another sparring partner." Genesis was eager to learn more of this individual.
"Okay." Sephiroth agreed, delighted to having potential friends.
They exchanged numbers. Sephiroth then made for the meet up location. He noticed Tseng was reading through the reports that were flooding in.
"What do we know?" Sephiroth asked.
"Only one person seen a suspicious figure walk towards the direction of the reactor. They didn't get a good look besides dark clothing. And, the final disturbing detail is that the sensors of the reactor tells us someone deactivated it before exploding it sky high."
"No cameras?" That was odd. Not everyone has that kind of information.
"None have been installed yet. The pump had just been finished in working condition to begin the rest of the finer details of construction for the reactor." Tseng informed.
"So, we're searching for one individual but also assuming there's more than one person?" Sephiroth knew how the Turk thought. It was a wonder he was the only Soldier.
"Yes. I wanted to recruit more Soldiers. But apparently with the village intact, we shouldn't create a panic. At least not until we know more information." Tseng understood the Soldier's mind.
"Would the village be in on this?" Sephiroth wondered. His inquiry made the Troopers nervous.
"Let's hope not." Tseng had the same thought, but didn't want to be suspicious of the village just yet.
They climbed into the helicopter.