"Zexion, may I induce you to your new guardians," She smiled right before Leon and Cloud walked into the dining hall holding hands.
I looked at them in confusion before I peered behind them, realized that no one else was there, and looked back at Aerith.
"What?" I didn't get it.
"Your new guardians," Aerith repeated as I once again looked to see those two strong, brave, caring men staring at me.
"You, you two? You two adopted me?" I don't know why but it didn't make sense to me, like I couldn't accept the reality because I knew I didn't deserve it.
"I couldn't let you go that easily." Leon shrugged as Clouds hand slipped out of his.
"I, I don't know what to say," I could hardly hear my own voice as I sniffled.
"When we found out that you'd have to go, Cloud made sure that we did all we could to keep you with us." Leon added with a smile as a tear rolled down my cheek.
"Thank you!" I ran up to Cloud, violently tackled him for a hug, and chocked him with my merciless grasp.
"You're welcome." Clouds hand relaxingly smoothed up and down my back, pressing me farther against his chest as I worked hard to keep myself from weeping. I sniffled, took some deep breaths, and then cleared my throat. Leon gave me a smile so I forced a rough hug on him, relieved to feel his muscles
surrounding me in a gentle yet firm warmth.
"I, I really don't know what to say." I rubbed my eyes.
"Then why don't we eat?" Aerith proposed, and before I agreed I gave her a hug too.
"Too happy to be hungry." Another tear of joy fell as I felt Leon's hand on my shoulder.
"Let's get some food in you, then we can send Cloud to get desert so we can all relax." Leon smiled.
"Yeah, sure, just send Cloud." Cloud rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"I have desert in the oven, no need to worry." Aerith chuckled as we all took our seats. Leon was at the head of the small table, then me sitting across Aerith with Cloud sitting across from Leon.
"You ok?" Leon asked, noticing that I hadn't even started eating.
"I can't eat. Can't think. Just, so happy." I smiled up at him.
"That makes us happy to hear. Doesn't it?" Leon looked to Cloud.
"M." Cloud nodded.
"Thank you." I let out a happy sniffle.
"Of course. Now go on and eat before the food gets cold." Leon instructed me, and in an attempt to make him proud of me, I obeyed. After the meal we all gathered in the living room, ate desert, and I listened as the three adults talked, which was mostly Leon and Aerith with Cloud occasionally grunting.
"You ok? You've been quiet?" Leon asked me after they wrapped up a conversation about college.
"Just thinking." I shrugged, still content and happy before their college conversation picked right back up again.
"It's been a while since I thought back to college days. Back to when we had to write those research papers, study for exams." Aerith shuddered with a pleasant grin that never seemed to leave her face.
"I remember the times when I thought high school was hard." Cloud scoffed.
"I remember paying losers to write my papers in high school." Leon bragged with his hands rested behind his head.
"Such a bad student." Aerith shook her head with a tisk.
"All the girls loved me, all the nerds wanted to be like me, and teachers had to pass me so our school could go to the championship bowl." Leon shrugged modestly. "It was the life until I went to college and realized I had to actually work. And I was working out twice as much to keep up with more competitive athletes."
"I was always so focused in high school, I felt burnt out by the time I reached college." Aerith let out a sigh, but still with a look of content on her face.
"Yeah right, you were only distracted cause of that guy." Leon smiled teasingly.
"Zack," Cloud whispered, as if he were afraid to say it any louder.
"It's been a while since I thought about all that too." Aerith played with the ring on her finger with her other hand.
"It's been about six years." Leon nodded, probably realizing that his words had just started something heavy.
"Six years, nine months," Aerith cleared her throat.
"I wish I could go back. Wish I could have done something." Cloud said quietly.
"I understand that feeling." Leon put his arm around Cloud, his words more true than even I could comprehend, but that didn't help as Cloud stood up and walked away from the couch.
"I let him go." Cloud said solemnly.
"It wasn't your burden. Zack knew what he was doing the very first time he started hanging around Sephiroth." Leon stood up and folded his arms as I looked with wide eyes. I quickly looked back down into my lap, afraid to say a word. I never told them where I got my drugs from when I used to do them, but I was far too scared to even mention Sephiroth's name. Still, part of me wondered, should they know?
"If I ever find that silver haired bastard," Cloud tensed his hands into fists. Maybe I shouldn't say anything in case Cloud loses it and takes it out on me. He'd probably kill me thinking I'm the silver haired creep.
"It wasn't just Sephiroth. It was all of the seniors when we were freshman. Genesis, and especially Angeal." Aerith spoke out.
"Angeal; he used to be really nice. Somehow he just turned." Leon shook his head.
"It was all because of Sephiroth." Cloud seemed to have a personal frustration with the drug dealer I once used.
"Genesis started it all," Aerith remained sitting down next to me as I gulped.
"One day, one day I'll make him pay." Cloud said as if to himself.
"I'm still working with the police to try to find him, but we haven't had a tip in a long time." Leon sighed as he sat back down. "One day justice will be served."
"I hope so, for Zack." Cloud sat next to Leon.
"For Zack." Aerith nodded her condolences.
"I'm sorry, bout your friend." I said quietly and politely. I felt so guilty. Maybe, maybe I could be the part of the puzzle they needed for their justice; but it was just too risky. The last think I need to do is remind these people why I should be locked up when they're trying to keep me on the outside.
"Thank you." Aerith smiled sweetly.
"Drugs are no joke. It's all fun and games until it gets to your brain and then it fucks with your mind." Leon said seriously.
"Leon, language." Aerith resumed her usual motherly tone.
"Off to a great start as a dad." Cloud smirked as I chuckled.
"Don't do drugs, don't cuss!" Leon pointed a stiff finger at me playfully.
"Got it." I nodded along.
"So, why don't we go shopping like we planned?" Aerith stood up and gave a friendly smile to freshen the mood.
"Shopping?" I looked to Leon. God only knows that's the last thing he and I need to do since we were so clueless last time and just put whatever we saw in the cart.
"For your new room." Leon smiled at me as I blushed.
"Re-really?" I was so touched I was speechless.
"Of course. But easy on the black decorations, ok?" Leon advised before we all got into his car.
"What are you doing?" Cloud looked at me as I tried to buckle my seatbelt.
"Um," I didn't know how to explain something I thought was so obvious.
"That one is mine." Cloud said protectively. I double checked to see that he was right.
"Sorry." I said as we both cleared our throats in the back seat.
"Something tells me you two are going to be more like brothers while Leon is the parent." Aerith giggled from the passenger seat.
"Yeah and I'll need you as the mom to get them listen too." Leon rolled his eyes from the drivers spot.
We spent a few hours going up and down the housing isles, picking stuff out for my bedroom and when Leon said that we'll need to fill up the new living room, I then realized something I hadn't before.
"Wait, apartment only has one room." I was confused as we started going down the bathroom section.
"We are moving just down the hall to a bigger apartment with two rooms." Leon didn't even look at me as he put new shower rings in the cart.
"Really?" I was surprised.
"When we first agreed to take you in we applied for it, assuming you'd be with us for a while. We figured after you left once you were ready, we could just use it for an office or something. Now we have a better use for it." Leon smiled as I tried to keep myself from getting emotional in a public setting.
"Thank, thank you." I smiled bright.
"You're welcome." Cloud said dryly as he picked out a black shower curtain.
"So, when we moving?" I asked as we all got back in the car to drop Cloud off at Aerith's place so he could pick up his motorcycle and meet us at the apartment complex.
"Right now." Leon said as we got on the highway.
"Oh." I said, a bit shocked, and not too excited to do any packing or lifting, but I remained silent anyway.
We had just let Cloud out of the car outside of Aerith's house when Leon's phone rang.
"Hello? Everything ok? Oh good. Ok. Mhmm, yes. Alright. Be careful. And don't go breaking anything. What was that? Wait! What? I swear to god if you! Fine, just be careful. Yeah yeah yeah, I memorized it." Leon rolled his eyes as I wondered who he was talking to.
"Is everything alright?" Aerith asked as Cloud waited to hear Leon's response.
"Just the movers."
"I don't trust them." Cloud muttered before he got on his motorcycle and sped off.
"We better hurry before they burn the place down." Leon shook his head. He chatted with Aerith until we reached the parking structure.
"Are you excited?" Aerith asked me with a wide smile. To be honest I was but at the same time I was very tired with just so much going on in my mind.
"Yeah," I said, not so convincingly.
"You've been very quiet." Leon looked at me suspiciously.
"I just, I feel so, weird." I said as we got out of the car.
"How so?" Aerith asked curiously.
"Sad that mom is gone. Happy to be with Cloud and Leon. But, wish friends were here too." I shrugged.
"You miss them, huh?" Aerith asked with an understanding smile.
"Yeah. They, they the reason I alive." I smiled, because I could say it and literally mean it.
"They are great friends. Truly irreplaceable." Leon smiled as we got in the elevator to go up 6 floors.
"I'm sure they'll want to see you as soon as possible." Aerith reassured me as we walked down the hall.
"Let's see how the new place looks, shall we?" Leon said as we passed by the apartment that I had stayed in with them.
"Ok." I was anxious, especially since we had already seen Cloud's motorcycle in the parking structure.
"Hello?" Leon opened the door to show Cloud sitting on a couch. My eyes went wide to see that everything was already in place: the TV, the couch, even dishes and cups and well, everything!
"Wow." I was really impressed at how everything was set up when I half expected to do it myself.
"It's bigger." Cloud said as he stood up and walked over to us.
"I've heard that before." Leon lifted his eyebrows as I blushed.
"Ok, well," Aerith clapped loudly as Leon chuckled and Cloud grunted grumpily. "Why don't we show Zexion the rest of the place?" She hinted strongly so we followed after.
They showed me the hallway bathroom, already decorated, and then Leon stood outside one room.
"This is Cloud's and my bedroom," He opened the door and I saw that not only was everything unpacked, but there was a redhead and a short blonde boy standing in the center.
"Surprise!" They shouted before I tackled them both for a hug at the same time.
"Guys!" I pushed into them with so much force that we all fell down on the floor.
"Careful." Leon chuckled before Axel sat us all up since he fell at the bottom.
"Zex!" He hugged me tightly.
"Axe! Roxy!" I was so happy I couldn't control it.
"Welcome home buddy." Roxas patted my head as I inhaled the joy.
"Thanks!" I felt their arms around me as I tried to hug them both at once.
"Once we heard you were staying, we just had to help make this place the best house ever!" Roxas smiled at me.
"Thank you, really." I said to him and Axel, too happy to know what else to say.
"Come on, let's go see your room." Leon winked at me.
"I wonder who's hiding in there." Cloud grumbled, 'ruining' the surprise even though it was clearly no secret.
I slowly opened the door that we were all standing outside quietly. When I peeked in, I saw Demyx dancing with his back towards me, thick headphones over his ears as he swayed his hips from side to side, head-banging smoothly while hanging up the last of my clothes in my closet. I smiled before I cleared my throat.
"Demyx." I said at a normal level. He didn't respond as he continued to dance.
"Yo Dem!" Axel said louder.
"Hello?" Leon asked my boyfriend who still hadn't noticed us.
"Demyx?" Roxas scratched his head.
"Didn't you tell him we were here?" Leon asked Cloud as we all watched Demyx dance to himself.
"Guess he didn't hear me say "we're here"?" Cloud shrugged.
"No one heard you. We walked into the living room and saw you. And even then you still didn't say anything!" Axel folded his arms.
"I said it." Cloud said to defend himself before I shook my head with a smile. I walked up to Demyx, took a deep breath, and then threw my arms around him.
"Eh?!" He panicked before he turned around with my arms still around his waist. "BABY!" He hugged me so tightly that I had to take several paces backward to avoid falling over.
"Demy!" I closed my eyes, bit my lip, and tried to keep from crying. I was just so tried emotionally, so happy, still mourning, just so heavy hearted. I wanted to be sad for my mother; I wanted to be happy to show Cloud and Leon that I was thankful for them; and I wanted to show my friends how much I appreciated their faithfulness to me. I also owed it to Aerith who helped me in the first place, and hell, I owed it to myself too. But at that moment, all I could do was sniffle.
"You ok?" Demyx asked, probably noticing how I was starting to cry lightly.
"I just, I don't know." I wiped my eyes with my hands against his chest.
"Oh, he, he's crying." Roxas whispered before I started to shudder.
"Shh, it's ok." Demyx held me tighter before I felt a stronger warmth. Roxas was hugging Demyx while Axel was hugging Roxas.
"We've got you buddy." Roxas smiled.
"We'll never let you go." Axel said soothingly as I let more tears out.
"Thanks." Was all I could say.
"Happy tears, or sad tears?" Aerith asked me and at the word 'sad' I started to sniffle and choke on it.
"I, I don't know." I confessed with a hand to my head. "Everything." I didn't know how to even answer her question as all these emotions flooded my slowly aching head.
"Shh, it's ok." Demyx rubbed my back as Axel and Roxas took a step back.
"Wish, wish I could have said goodbye." I wept quietly.
"Your mom?" Demyx asked before I nodded against his shirt.
"And my dad. And Grandma. Why did they leave me?" I started to sob before I opened my leaking eyes to see Leon silently asking Demyx to hand me over. Demyx let his arms slide off of my body before Leon sat down on my new bed and patted the spot next to him.
"Shh, it'll be alright." Leon rubbed my shoulder.
"I just wanted them to love me." I inhaled deeply, my lower lip shaking. "Didn't ask to be born. It wasn't my fault." I put my head in my hands, feeling guilty for ruining what was supposed to be a happy moment, but I couldn't ignore the feelings tugging at my heart.
"Zexion you being born wasn't a bad thing. You have to accept that." Leon moved his hand to my back, making small relaxing circles with his large palm.
"Mom said it was. Said, I wasn't just an accident. Said I was a mistake." I coughed up more rough tears.
"Look at me." Leon said sternly so after I sniffled liquid back into my nose and wiped my eyes messily with my sleeve, I obeyed and stared deep into his harsh brown orbs. "You are NOT a mistake. Do you understand?" He asked as if there wasn't even an answer expected.
"Kay." I said, but it was clear that I didn't really believe him.
"Sometimes things happen that we don't plan, but that doesn't make them mistakes."
"But I am. Told me," I sniffled, "told me if she could go back, would have aborted me." I looked down into my lap. "Aunt told me she wished mom would have." I whispered before Cloud sat at my other side.
"Those people don't care about you, because of their own issues. Look at everyone in this room." He commanded, so I did, seeing Demyx's poor smile, Axel's and Roxas' attempt to cheer me up with their over the top smile, and Aerith's friendly grin. Then I saw Leon and his serious look of concern, and Cloud with his subtle version of help. "There's not one of us in here who wouldn't do everything we had to, to make sure you were ok." Cloud words were so direct that they just felt so true.
"No matter the hour, if you called needing a listening ear, I'd drive to wherever you are with all the support I can give." Aerith smiled comfortingly.
"You'll always have me to be that person who just keeps you company when you need it; whether you want to talk, have fun doing whatever you want, or when you just need someone to keep from feeling alone. I'll always be here for you Zex." Roxas smiled at me.
"And I'll always have your back. Whether you need some encouragement, some advice, or just some stupid words to make you smile and laugh, you're looking at your guy." Axel pointed to himself and I couldn't help but smile weakly. "See? I told you, I'll do whatever to keep that smile on your face." He said as I bit my lip and nodded.
"When I think back to what our parents did to us," Demyx paused before he sighed. "Well, it isn't fair. But if I had the option to go through it all a second time just to see you smile for a minute," Demyx gave a shy smile. "I'd do it Zex. I love you. We may just be in high school, but I know that this is real. And I really would do anything you asked for if it meant keeping you safe and happy. I'm here, when you want me, and even when you don't." Demyx gave a playful smile as I let out a small chuckle. "I promise to keep your heart in the safest place I own, right next to mine." He winked before I blushed. It was the cheesiest yet sweetest thing anyone's ever told me.
"Thank you Demy." I felt my face turning red with hope returning to me.
"I know I don't say much. Doesn't mean I don't feel much. I care about you." Cloud said with his eyes as honest as ever, and his cute phrase made me smile. "I will not let you fall." His promise sounded so certain, as if his life depended on it, so I nodded my sincere thanks.
"I know we just took you in, but that doesn't mean that I just started caring about you. The day we met in the hospital, I realized just how special you are. We may not have known each other very long, but that doesn't change the fact that I will do everything in my power to provide for you and give you the best life I can offer. I would lay my very life down for you Zexion, because you are that important." Leon's eyes didn't shake or stray as he said such heavy words, making me feel so special that I had to hide in his chest with a hug, crying all over again.
"It will be ok." Leon comforted me.
"We love you Zex, don't cry." Demyx said but I shook my head into Leon's hold.
"Happy tears." I sniffled before I heard my friends cheering.
"Aww, he's so cute!" Roxas squealed as I blushed, sniffling the last of my happy tears.
"He is adorable. Demyx picked a keeper." Axel winked at me as I smiled back.
"The very best!" Demyx blew me a kiss as I bit my lip, blushing even stronger.
"I just wonder why he picked weird friends like us." Roxas joked.
"Hey!" Axel took a playful offense. "It's cause we are all weirdo's together and it's like I said, we'll never leave him. Cause he's stuck with us for forever and ever!" Axel said proudly as we all smiled.
"Come on, we promised the movers pizza." Leon gave a caring smile down at me.
"Food!" Axel ran after Leon, who went into the living room.
"So much for 'never leave him for forever and ever'." Roxas rolled his eyes playfully as I chuckled.
"You going to be ok?" Demyx asked before he and I followed after Roxas, Axel, and Aerith.
"Yeah." I wiped my eyes free of all liquid traces and took his hand. We walked into the living room as Leon ordered the pizza on the phone.
"You guys didn't break anything, right?" Cloud asked.
"Nope." Axel said, sitting on the couch and pulling Roxas to his side.
"Where are my cats?" Cloud asked as Axel sighed.
"I don't know. Somewhere."
"Somewhere?!" Cloud stood up in a panicked anger.
"Yeah, somewhere." Axel shrugged.
"Snowball?" Cloud began his hunt.
"That doesn't worry you?" Axel asked Leon as the brunette watched Cloud's desperate search for his cats.
"Eh. As long as he chooses me over the cats, there won't be a problem." Leon shrugged his folded arms.
"I swear Axel if you hurt one of my cats," Cloud started.
"What are you going to do, sick Leon on me?" Axel asked with a chuckle.
"Hey!" Leon barked loudly as I saw Axel's eyes widen as his body stiffened.
"You bet to hell I will." Cloud said with no bump in his tone as he sat on the armrest of Leon's loveseat. Leon gave a smug grin before he put his arm around Cloud's waist.
"Must be nice to have your own body guard." Roxas scoffed.
"Zexion really has the life now." Axel said as he unstiffened his body. I looked to him a bit confused. "Well, you have a nice room, two great guardians who are funny and strong, and you still have Aerith, and well, if I do say so myself, you have three amazing friends. And I mean, AMAZING. Like, the cute blonde boy is super cute, the tall blonde is sweet, and then there's the sexy redhead," Axel smirked as we all laughed along.
"I could go for some ice cream." Roxas rubbed his stomach.
"Popsicles sound good after the move." Demyx stretched his arms.
"Oh, I see, one of THOSE popsicles eh? Well I'm sure Zexion and Roxas might oppose but, if you want a popsicle," Axel moved his right hand to his zipper as my eyes widened.
"Move your hand and the next time I get a taste of you popsicle, I'll bite it so hard, the popsicle stick will break in two." Roxas glared his icy eyes.
"On second thought," Axel coughed. "I recommend you just buy some real ice cream."
"Good choice." Roxas rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, if you guys want desert we'd have to go to the store." Leon said as I raised my hand to volunteer.
"I'll go with him." Demyx offered. "I kind of wanted some alone time to talk to him about our relationship; if that's ok." Demyx looked to Leon, who exhaled out his nose and nodded.
"I want you both there and back within thirty minutes. No detours. No funny business." Leon said clearly as my boyfriend and I nodded.
"I'll keep his hand in mine, cause I don't want to let go." Demyx smiled at me before I smiled back.
"Good. Be safe. Be smart." Leon warned before my boyfriend and I headed for the gas station down the street.
"So, what Demy want to talk about?" I asked as we neared the gas station, just a few minutes walk from the apartment complex.
"Well, I mean, now that you have a stable home, maybe it's time we had a stable relationship?" Demyx asked me as I bit my lip, trying not to look desperate and over excited, but I was so happy at just the idea.
"You mean it?" I asked back.
"Yeah," Demyx smiled. "I want to be with you, and I want you to heal, so if we do officially date again, we have to make sure we are each dedicated to continuing this journey we started of healing the damage done by our parents. But maybe we can do both at the same time?" Demyx gave me a hopeful smile as I stopped to hug him.
"Thank you." I closed my eyes, so happy. Here I was, getting everything I could ask for, and more. I got to live with Cloud and Leon, as if they were my parents. I still get to have Aerith's support, and the friendships of people as awesome as Axel and Roxas. And now, now I get Demyx? I was wondering what the catch would be, because I knew life could never be so perfect.
I was right.
Just after we broke the hug and started walking again towards the gas station, I saw a familiar face.
"Great, now to just buy ice cream and some soda and we're set!" Demyx gave me a smile just twenty meters from the gas station's Quick Mart door. I gulped and made eye contact with cold aqua marine eyes. They smiled back at me as I realized just how dangerous the situation had become. Just then the eyes looked down to a phone and seemed busy, so I went with Demyx into the store, ignoring the man outside who I knew had seen me, and who I knew I needed to avoid. That plan didn't work well as I received a text.
"Everything ok?" Demyx asked.
"Yeah," I opened the text to read it.
"You've been gone for a while. You interested, Ienzo?"
Right away, without even having to look at the contact information, I knew who sent that text. There was only one person who called me by that name. Just one man, who was standing outside the mini mart, who had made eye contact with me, and who used to sell me my drugs. Shit. It was Sephiroth.
"Was it Leon?" Demyx asked as I shoved the phone in my pocket.
"No, no, is ok." I tried to calm down. I couldn't show that I was nervous. I couldn't show any signs of what had happened, of who had just texted me, of what was going on inside my head. I had to look calm, I had to keep it together, but most importantly, I had to ask myself one question:
Would I take Sephiroth up on his offer?
"Hmmm, ok what flavor?" Demyx stood in front of the ice cream section with me at his side as I took my phone out, looked at the text, and opened a new message to respond. I looked outside the glass window and saw Sephiroth looking at me with a smile so controlled it was nearly frightening. I gulped. I took a deep breath before I typed out the words carefully, mentally reviewing the pros and cons as quickly as I could. Before I could think further and change my mind on the matter, I sent the text.
Author's Note: No I'm not bull shitting you, this really is the end of A Taste of Loneliness! For those of you who don't already know THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL. I only have this ending for ONE reason: I want YOU to choose if he sends the text or not. I'm being serious too. I already wrote one version (ok well I outlined what would happen in one scenario) but I want YOU to decide what you would like to read. I will say that the side I wrote is very dark, very heavy, kind of creepy, and just plain over the top sad. Yep, can you guess which version I wrote? Basically, it has a lot of negative themes but of course has a happy ending. I just, I'm wondering if you want to read it, I don't know, I don't want to post something super heavy and dramatic if you guys want to read something happier. So if you want to read about Zexion living with Cloud and Leon, please let me know and I will write about that with some conflict and tension but good old family cute fluff. If you want to read about Zexion giving into his old ways, please say so and I will make it happen. I am perfectly fine with any way you vote. No matter which way you vote, the title will be GET ADDICTED, so look for it on my page/check regularly to see when it's up!
PLEASE VOTE VIA COMMENT. It'll be easier to count which version won if it is all on the same place. Even if you just review "Sephiroth" or "Cleon", just so I know what you want to read. Please vote so you can read the sequel you want to read. I really want you to be a part of this process, because this story has gotten me so many lovely reviews and heart felt messages, I really want to give back to you all and give you a sequel you want to read, but I can't do that unless you tell me which version you'd like.
Of course, this being said, I do want to say that the sequel may not be posted for a little while, since I have to wait for enough people to vote, and then I have to actually write it all out, which can take a while. Thank you in advance for your patience, but I promise I will start positing it the second I have the first chapter down. I will do my best not to make you wait long!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, commented, sent me a private message, followed, and favorite this story. It means so much to me, how many people informed me that they were touched or inspired by this story. I do want to dedicate it to Anthony, who will never read this, never realize that I still care for him as a close friend, and will never realize that I never gave up on him. I'm sorry I couldn't do more to keep you away from the drugs you insisted you were never addicted to. Despite the decisions you made, I will always be here, even if you refuse to acknowledge me, I will always care for you. This story may never reach you, but I hope it reaches others and helps them the way I failed to help you. I am sorry, and I will always love you.
Ok, sorry for that personal tidbit!
Thanks again for reading! (sorry for not doing reader responses, I'm trying to update 2 other stories right now and am packing to go back home for the first time in 7 months, so busy!)
DONT FORGET TO VOTE: SEPHIROTH or CLOUD AND LEON!
Living Legacy, Silent Sacrifice, Sarabellum