kinkfest | Fic: Inner Strength (Sephiroth/Kadaj)

Title: Inner Strength
Author/Artist:

brushfiretiger
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Word count: 870
Prompt: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Sephiroth/Kadaj: Age differences, hurt/comfort – crumbling

There were times that Kadaj was just so fucking tired of silver and black. As he walked along the edge of the lake, the inky black leather of his garment creaked and seemed to answer the softer sounds of the towering silver trees. The full moon shimmered brightly over midnight black water, and helped to cast shadows that made the wood feel alive, when it is was not. Silver and black; they were the contrasts of cold that filled his short life.

His brothers were both sleeping. After a long day of torturing the two Turks who had fallen into their grasp, the pair curled up together to sleep, ying and yang, silver and black.

Where did he fit in?

When their base was well out of sight, Kadaj stopped walking and sighed as he sat under one of the massive silver trees, whose branches extended out over the water. The youngest remnant picked up a stone and turned it over several times before skipping it out over the perfect glassy surface. “Mother. Why did you choose me?” he whispered, not really expecting an answer. He’d come to know that mother wouldn’t speak to him except to call him onward. That, never stopped. That, was driving him insane.

“It won’t be long now, Kadaj.”

The voice startled the youth and eyes a color that didn’t belong in this stark place, went wide. The voice was soft, but deep, and decidedly male. Kadaj looked around him, lips tight, fingers curling around Souba's hilt. They’d all seen shadows during the day while attending to the Turks. Twice Loz claimed to see something red moving between the trees, but none of them had ever actually seen it. Maybe the woods really were haunted.

"Who's there?" asked Kadaj, hissing between clenched teeth. "Show yourself, and maybe I will not carve you into little pieces."

"Behind you," came the voice again.

Kadaj turned back toward the lake, and frowned as light seemed to gather and dance in the shimmers of water. He leaned closer, his own reflection seeming to come unglued in front of him, and shift in age. The young remnant fell back, landing on his ass. Sephiroth! Cautiously Kadaj crawled on hands and knees, back to the water and peered at the image. Sure enough, the mirror that laughed back at him was of the silver-haired General.

Kadaj touched the pool, and as his hand came in contact with the surface, Sephiroth's mirror hand pulled the youth forward. "How is this possible?" Kadaj whispered, now laying flat on his belly, both arms submerged in the pitch black water.

"Come. Be with me, and I will take away the confusion that is festering in your mind," Sephiroth said, still calm.

"My brothers-"

"Are not the Chosen. Come, Kadaj. Let me hold you for a while." Sephiroth's grasp seemed to fade, and the image in the water was now of his back, the long, flowing hair moving through the water as if it were alive.

"No! Don't go!" Kadaj leapt up and waded quickly into the water, giving chase. "Please... I don’t want to be alone with Mother." Kadaj hung his head, silver bangs falling over his eyes. "She frightens me." Chest deep in the lake, the slender remnant became aware of a warmth wrapping about him as Sephiroth appeared once more. Invisible hands seemed to slide up his trembling body, caressing away the fear. Kadaj bit his lower lip and moaned. "She gets so angry when she calls, and the Turks haven't told us a thing even though we've broken them so completely."

"I will give you the strength you require to finish this, Kadaj. You will no longer fear her while I am part of you. Nothing will get in your way with my essence as your guide." Sephiroth cooed into the youth's ear.

Though he saw nothing, wet pressed against Kadaj's cheek as if to kiss. He trembled. "Mm. I want that. No one will question me then. Not even Loz and Yazoo will try and push me around, with your influence."

"We will set your brothers right. Do you accept?" asked the soft voice as water around Kadaj beginning to froth.

"Yes."

"Lie back."

Kadaj eased himself down into the water, and with just his face breaking the surface, the inky blackness seemed to draw inward. Kadaj gasped and arched, a feeling of invasion filling him both of mind and body. The feeling of pleasure and pain peaked; Kadaj fell back, face going under the surface of water, the last of the jet black liquid seemed to be absorbed into him.

All went silent.

Seconds ticked by until Kadaj finally broke the surface again, gasping for air. Around him, the water was crystal clear; gone was the deep shadow and Kadaj knew that it was now within him. He could feel Him there, somewhere in the deep recesses of his soul. Looking down, the mirror-image flickered between youth and age, his eyes and those of the Nightmare. Kadaj smiled.

"Let's go set my brothers straight on a few things," Kadaj said, a new strange, twisted smile upon his lips. "And then I will make those Turks tell where Mother is."