[ Angeal's own lips twitch slightly at the sound of that soft laughter, and he nods.
They are SOLDIER 1st class. They have all gotten well-used to surveillance at all time. Even without the layers to the whole experience, Angeal wouldn't have felt threatened by those words. But it is... extremely precious to him, in ways that Sephiroth probably knows, to know that, should he falter, he won't fall down alone.
Even if, with all the burdens that this Sephiroth is carrying, Angeal will try not to add himself... again. It is a promise that means much and more to him.
He watches Sephiroth until the opening closes, then he bows his head and gives a salute with the Buster Sword in his direction.
Only then does he turn to follow in the puppy's steps.
Once he is outside, he holds up his hand... not holding the sword. ]
It's fine, Zack.
[ ... at which he promptly gets golmmed by the youth, and has to blink slightly as he's alternately embraced and shaken. ]
Don't ever do something like this again, you hear me? Ever!
[ And on he rambles for a bit, before Angeal finally pushes him away, a scowl in the direction of the other person present. ]
Wait outside.
Angeal!
Go.
[ Zack gives a growl, but then turns and storms off, and Angeal turns slowly towards Hollander. ]
Oh, no, you don't. If I'm gone, there won't be anyone left to help Genesis!
You can't help Genesis, anyway. What you did to him, to us, is beyond your comprehension. The evil you have unleashed.
Angeal! You can't kill me! I'm family!"
My mother understood, in the end. There are things you don't do to family. Goodbye. Doctor Hollander.
[ There is no salute this time. The Buster Sword descends swiftly and leaves no chance of survival.
Then Angeal's shoulders hunch, his stomach churning. There are things that do not get easy even after years of warfare. But his determination doesn't waver... though, for a moment, he just stands there, the enormous emotional whiplash finally catching up to him.
He can't be weak anymore. Way too much depends on him not wavering.
Eventually, he squares his shoulders and walks out. Arm around Zack's waist, he takes off. Once Zack's complaints run out, he lets some distance pass, before he chimes up again, carefully. ]
Angeal?
Yes?
What the hell happened?
[ Ah. The difficult question... but the only one that really matters. Angeal sighs. ]
It seems that Shinra... and especially the science department, went and meddled with something they really shouldn't have. Far, far more powerful than they could have imagined. Genesis, I... and Sephiroth are the products of that meddling - and both vulnerable to its influence and desired by it. If I... had followed through on what I started, Sephiroth would have succumbed, and the suffering would be beyond what any of us could have reconned. The Sephiroth who we saw back there had. He is powerful, enough that he can cross the streams of time. And he did, because I might be able to make a difference.
So, what? You're not set on dying anymore?
More or less. I thought the star'd be better off without me-- [ he can feel the full body flinch that Zack gives, and remembers what Sephiroth showed him of the youth's grief, ] --but it seems removing myself would actually be worse. I still must find a way to not squander it, of course.
You're an idiot, you know that?
... and a coward besides, apparently.
[ That gets him a kick in the shin, and he can't help a small grin. The banter flows more easily, after that. Zack doesn't ask him where they are going, but that might be just the relief.
They are almost approaching Midgar when it's Angeal's turn to break the silence. ]
Zack. In one way... Genesis was not wrong. It turns out that Shinra is the enemy. I need... more information about that. But it may be that I will deflect for real, and Sephiroth also. If I can, I'll try to keep you up to date, but if it happens, it will be because of facts. If it comes to that, I won't fight with you.
[ He can't make Zack turn traitor, too. But he won't go against him if they end up on different sides. ]
You're such - what will you even do, Angeal?
That depends on what we find. That's why I'll try to keep you up to date.
Right. Well, unless that 'Shinra is the enemy' turns out to be complete hogwash, I'd probably be helping.
Thanks, Zack.
[ It's a relief, to hear that. It'll still make a difference, how accurate future Sephiroth's claim was, but...
He drops off Zack near the entrance of the headquarters. And finds his own way to Sephiroth's corner of it.
the innocents
They are SOLDIER 1st class. They have all gotten well-used to surveillance at all time. Even without the layers to the whole experience, Angeal wouldn't have felt threatened by those words. But it is... extremely precious to him, in ways that Sephiroth probably knows, to know that, should he falter, he won't fall down alone.
Even if, with all the burdens that this Sephiroth is carrying, Angeal will try not to add himself... again. It is a promise that means much and more to him.
He watches Sephiroth until the opening closes, then he bows his head and gives a salute with the Buster Sword in his direction.
Only then does he turn to follow in the puppy's steps.
Once he is outside, he holds up his hand... not holding the sword. ]
It's fine, Zack.
[ ... at which he promptly gets golmmed by the youth, and has to blink slightly as he's alternately embraced and shaken. ]
Don't ever do something like this again, you hear me? Ever!
[ And on he rambles for a bit, before Angeal finally pushes him away, a scowl in the direction of the other person present. ]
Wait outside.
Angeal!
Go.
[ Zack gives a growl, but then turns and storms off, and Angeal turns slowly towards Hollander. ]
Oh, no, you don't. If I'm gone, there won't be anyone left to help Genesis!
You can't help Genesis, anyway. What you did to him, to us, is beyond your comprehension. The evil you have unleashed.
Angeal! You can't kill me! I'm family!"
My mother understood, in the end. There are things you don't do to family. Goodbye. Doctor Hollander.
[ There is no salute this time. The Buster Sword descends swiftly and leaves no chance of survival.
Then Angeal's shoulders hunch, his stomach churning. There are things that do not get easy even after years of warfare. But his determination doesn't waver... though, for a moment, he just stands there, the enormous emotional whiplash finally catching up to him.
He can't be weak anymore. Way too much depends on him not wavering.
Eventually, he squares his shoulders and walks out. Arm around Zack's waist, he takes off. Once Zack's complaints run out, he lets some distance pass, before he chimes up again, carefully. ]
Angeal?
Yes?
What the hell happened?
[ Ah. The difficult question... but the only one that really matters. Angeal sighs. ]
It seems that Shinra... and especially the science department, went and meddled with something they really shouldn't have. Far, far more powerful than they could have imagined. Genesis, I... and Sephiroth are the products of that meddling - and both vulnerable to its influence and desired by it. If I... had followed through on what I started, Sephiroth would have succumbed, and the suffering would be beyond what any of us could have reconned. The Sephiroth who we saw back there had. He is powerful, enough that he can cross the streams of time. And he did, because I might be able to make a difference.
So, what? You're not set on dying anymore?
More or less. I thought the star'd be better off without me-- [ he can feel the full body flinch that Zack gives, and remembers what Sephiroth showed him of the youth's grief, ] --but it seems removing myself would actually be worse. I still must find a way to not squander it, of course.
You're an idiot, you know that?
... and a coward besides, apparently.
[ That gets him a kick in the shin, and he can't help a small grin. The banter flows more easily, after that. Zack doesn't ask him where they are going, but that might be just the relief.
They are almost approaching Midgar when it's Angeal's turn to break the silence. ]
Zack. In one way... Genesis was not wrong. It turns out that Shinra is the enemy. I need... more information about that. But it may be that I will deflect for real, and Sephiroth also. If I can, I'll try to keep you up to date, but if it happens, it will be because of facts. If it comes to that, I won't fight with you.
[ He can't make Zack turn traitor, too. But he won't go against him if they end up on different sides. ]
You're such - what will you even do, Angeal?
That depends on what we find. That's why I'll try to keep you up to date.
Right. Well, unless that 'Shinra is the enemy' turns out to be complete hogwash, I'd probably be helping.
Thanks, Zack.
[ It's a relief, to hear that. It'll still make a difference, how accurate future Sephiroth's claim was, but...
He drops off Zack near the entrance of the headquarters. And finds his own way to Sephiroth's corner of it.
A deep breath, and he knocks on the door. ]
Taking visitors?