Beautiful Broken

Dragons!

2008-04-28T09:07:37Z

ah, why not.

2008-03-27T09:02:27Z

headdesk coudn't resist

2008-03-03T10:53:02Z

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gryphonchik @ 2008-03-01T07:01:00

2008-03-01T12:03:26Z

gryphonchik @ 2007-05-22T13:56:00

2007-05-22T17:59:23Z

Protector

2006-12-12T19:27:20Z

Whee!!! Time for another installment of Protector!! Asa's finished tweaking chapter 3 to her pleasure, which means I get to post it now. So.... go. read. enjoy. (and don't forget to review!)

Many thanks to takefuji for the lovely official icon for Protector.

Planet's Protector

Previous chapters:
Prologue & First Chapter
Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Author's note: Cloud's chocobo is named after a police officer in Charlaine Harris' books about Sookie Stackhouse. Don't ask why. No, really - don't ask.

Planets' Protector

chapter 3

Cloud could practically feel the worry and anxiety roiling beneath Yuffie’s skin. He could see the caution, interest and outright suspicion of their would-be allies, the old pain lingering in all of the group that had led him and Yuffie around. It was more difficult to interpret the small currents of the Earth natives than Yuffie’s, his connection with Gaia much stronger than his new bond to this planet.

He felt sympathy for her, couldn’t imagine being alone for so long that you forgot your own name. And he was certain that it was time that had stolen the memory from her; time, not torture by unfeeling scientists.

I’ll never leave you, Zack-memory promised, swamping Cloud with the strength of his conviction, fierce protectiveness warming like a fire. You and me Spike, and I’ll take you where Shinra can never hurt us again. Just please, please, wake up.

Cloud hated the way the flood of the Lifestream affected him. The small dose the mostly slumbering planet could muster was enough to heighten his planet awareness and attune him to her own Lifestream, which had been her goal, but it also stirred up the memory fragments that didn’t truly belong to him. He could ignore or block out the voices of people he had never met, but when bits of Zack surfaced… Listening hurt, but he couldn’t bear not to. Not when they were all he had left.

Scattered memories and a SOLDIER sword, he thought bitterly. It shouldn’t have been possible to reduce you to that.

Yuffie’s hand brushing against his provided a subtle anchor to the real world, gave him something to focus on as the green slowly faded from his vision and the currents of living matter became awareness instead of sight. Cloud doubted she knew what the Lifestream did to him, but she’d always known how to handle him. The way she encouraged him to be true to himself and neither coddled nor dictated to him made him feel like a human being in times when he wasn’t sure if that was still true. The way she wasn’t ever afraid of him and felt free to prank or lecture him as she saw fit made him feel like family.

After an encounter with the Lifestream, he needed both.

Shaking out of his thoughts as they left the elevator, Cloud wished he were more of a diplomat than a soldier. He had to make this work, even if he didn’t understand why Gaia had sent him to this so-called Earth. The destination hadn’t been decided on a whim, and he trusted her judgement on that, but it only emphasized how important it was that he be able to work with the people here.

He glanced over at the man who’d accepted the Ultima Weapon from him. The man reminded him somewhat of Barrett with his height and dark skin, though his nature seemed more akin to Vincent. Trying to puzzle out his intentions and motivations would take time, because the planet didn’t know him, and Cloud could read nothing from the chaotic currents within him. But giving him the sword had been its own test, and the Gaia-made weapon had not denied the touch.

It doesn’t matter where he’s from or what he is. He is trusted here, and Ultima didn’t sense an enemy. Cloud glanced over at the apparent civilian in the group. And whoever these people are or what they do, I’ll have to agree to any restrictions or demands they see fit to ask for.

No matter what he meant to Gaia, she could always change another human to keep her company, and now that she was fully awake she didn’t truly need a protector. If she wanted to, she could make new WEAPONs. He was not irreplaceable even if she couldn’t duplicate all that Hojo had done to him. Cloud was well aware that this was his only chance to do the impossible and return what he had stolen from Zack. If he failed now, the offer would not come again. And the planets would be the ones to decide if he failed them.

Sitting down at the long table of a room that seemed a simpler, military version of the meeting room of Shinra Headquarters felt surreal, another reflection of the past. Even if he had been spying from the air ducts back then, not participating like he was now.

The sound of a throat clearing brought his gaze to General Hammond.

“I believe introductions are in order,” the older man said. “This is Colonel Jack O’Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal’c, who has chosen to ally himself with us.”

Cloud and Yuffie nodded to each in turn.

“You have both cooperated with us so far, and if you are correct about your stargate now being sealed I can understand why,” Hammond continued. “However, there are questions that need answers before I can make any kind of decision concerning you. Explain how and why you came here.”

Yuffie glanced at Cloud before deciding to help him get started, preferably at a point after Meteor. That mess was none of their business. “We were investigating an abandoned lab when we found the gate. It was hidden away in a secret room within a secret facility, so I doubt it has been used since it got there.” She shrugged. “I didn’t get a good look at it before Gaia showed up and sweet-talked Cloud into coming here, but since I wasn’t about to let him go alone, I jumped in ahead of him.”

“But you said you couldn’t hear her,” Carter objected.

“She can’t,” Cloud confirmed, “but she can still hear me talking. She heard me agree to leave Gaia and wake her sister planets. I also agreed to protect them and keep them company.”

Four of the five looked distinctly skeptical, but the civilian – Jackson – was intrigued.

“You really can speak with planets?” he asked. “The things they would remember…”

Yuffie snorted. “You’re a historian, aren’t you? Even if she wakes, she won’t be able to tell you anything. Planets don’t care about ordinary humans unless we’re hurting them. That’s why I wasn’t invited along.”

“Gaia can give other people the ability to understand her, but she can’t create a new line of Cetra. They have a bond to their planets that I will never have. Your planet has been asleep for a long time, and alone before that. I…” Cloud hesitated, wondering if it was a bad idea to bring it up so soon, then plunged on. “Do you know why there are no Ancients left here? The impression I got was that they abandoned her, but Aeris’ people would never have done that to Gaia, so I’m not certain that’s what really happened. They might not have left by their own will. It’s important for me to know, so I won’t upset her needlessly.”

Now all of them were looking at him strangely, and Cloud resisted the urge to squirm. Jackson was fairly glowing with excitement.

“You knew an Ancient?” he asked eagerly. “Can you tell us anything about them? About their language? We’ve found some texts –”

Cloud shook his head. “Aeris was orphaned when she was very young. She always regretted there was so much she didn’t know about her mother’s people.” The room slid out of focus as both his and Zack’s memories stirred. “Shinra hunted her, wanted to use her, experiment on her. As long as Hojo was alive, no one was safe. Specimens, all of us. Never humans to him, always specimens…”

Recognizing the signs, Yuffie jabbed an elbow into his ribs to bring him back to the present, glad to see his eyes clear. “It was… not a pleasant part of our world’s history,” she explained hastily, glaring at Jackson for bringing it up. Not that he could have known, of course, but she wasn’t interested in being fair just then.

While Jackson absorbed the disappointment, Hammond moved on to more immediate questions.

“I will accept your story of talking planets” – for now, his tone said – “but the question of why we should treat you as allies remains. You said that we could help you.” His eyes were very sharp on Cloud’s. “What assistance are you asking for, and what would you offer in return?”

Cloud kept his expression neutral by force of habit. While it was tempting to promise them he’d do anything, he knew showing desperation would gain him nothing. Deliberately stirring through his stolen memories, he held tight to pieces of Shinra meetings and negotiations Zack had been present at.

“Before I can offer anything at all, I would ask what your standing is,” he said with an outward calm he didn’t feel, mimicking the image of Sephiroth’s cool demeanor. By the agitated fluctuations he sensed in Yuffie, she didn’t trust it, but the others seemed to. “Are you official military? What do you use the gate for?”

Everyone but Teal’c looked to the General, alerting him to the fact that in one way or other this was sensitive information.

“We operate with the support of our nation’s government, but for security reasons the public is not aware of the stargate’s existence.” Hammond was searching for some reaction, but Cloud wasn’t sure why. “We use the gate to visit other planets and make allies against the Goa’uld.”

Yuffie glanced over at Cloud, brows raised in a way that said Well, that was helpful. He gave her a nod of agreement and she took over the conversation.

“Tell us about them,” she prompted. “These Goa’uld you keep mentioning. What are they? Why are you fighting? Who started it?”

The question obviously came as a surprise, but Hammond pulled himself together quickly enough.

“Dr. Jackson, if you please.”

Jackson nodded. “The Goa’uld are alien life forms that need human hosts to survive. They came to Earth thousands of years ago and enslaved us, using advanced technology to set themselves up as gods to be worshipped. Our ancestors overthrew them and buried the stargate to keep them from coming back. It is only in recent years that we rediscovered what the gate is and begun exploring other planets. However, the Goa’uld took people to other planets and these cultures are kept under careful watch to ensure they don’t evolve beyond a controllable level. Some are not even allowed to read and write – on Abydos, it was a hidden, secret skill few knew or dared to learn. It’s –”

“Daniel.” O’Neill sounded exasperated, though there was a hint of amusement in his dark eyes. “That’s really not the issue right now.”

“Oh. Uhm… right.” Jackson was visibly flustered, but Cloud found it reassuring. If that kind of passion over cultural matters was not only accepted but looked at with fondness by military leaders, then the risk of them having much similarity with Shinra was negligible.

“They look like snakes, creep in at the back of your neck to settle around the spinal cord and take control of your body,” O’Neill explained, “and they have all kinds of technology that makes them hard to kill.”

“Jaffa like myself carry infant Goa’uld,” Teal’c continued. “In return for this protection, the prim’ta make us strong, insure our health and give us long life.”

Hearing about Teal’c’s little houseguest made Yuffie shift closer to Cloud, nervously stroking the Transform materia in her armlet.

Why didn’t I equip any offensive materia? she scolded herself. Cloud’ll never let me live it down if I turn them all into Touch Mes!

Cloud had barely registered Teal’c’s words, his attention on O’Neill.

“They control you?” he asked, feeling chilled to the bone.

O’Neill nodded, eyes narrowing as if sensing there was a story somewhere but he didn’t push for it. “The host can hear and see and feel, but he can’t affect what the Goa’uld in his body does.”

Cloud sat frozen, Gaia’s words echoing in his mind. ‘There are other enemies than Jenova. Lesser beings not of her race but of like mind. They must be stopped before my sisters are damaged beyond healing.’

Memories beat at him; purely his this time. Memories of being under the influence of Jenova, nothing but a puppet on Sephiroth’s strings.

As the silence stretched, Yuffie placed one hand on his arm. “Come on, little brother,” she coaxed. “Settle them down and leave the past where it should be.”

Blinking, Cloud did as he was told, using her voice and touch as an anchor to the present. The slip had been too easy, the memories too close. When this meeting was over he had to talk to the planet again, had to ground himself. “It seems we have a common enemy after all,” he said aloud, glad his voice came out even.

Even here, one does not become a General by being slow on the uptake, Cloud mused as Hammond took the opening presented to him.

“Then, in the spirit of cooperation, can you tell us how you opened the iris?”

“I didn’t do anything. Gaia sent us, and your planet received us.” Cloud was relieved with the change of subject, as it was unlikely to bring up any old memories. “What is the iris, and what happened to it?”

Hammond raised his brows, but answered readily enough. “Considering what happened to you, it’s understandable that you didn’t see it, but there are metal plates that close over the wormhole to keep uninvited visitors out. When you came through, there was a green light around the gate that kept the iris open.”

Cloud nodded. “Lifestream. I’m surprised she could raise it in her state.”

“Planet energy,” Yuffie expanded at seeing the others didn’t understand. She glanced at Cloud, nodding briefly at the guarded expression on his face, and left out all potentially dangerous information about Lifestream and mako. “Its lifeblood, in a way. If the Lifestream is disturbed or lessened enough, the planet and everything on it will die.”

“And that’s what one of your Goa’uld are doing,” Cloud said. “Gaia didn’t tell me their name, but the description fits.” He could almost feel the Manipulate materia burn through the metal of his armlet, eager to be used. It was tempting to tap into that power, not to urge for a quick and honest answer as he had by the gate earlier, but to force acceptance.

But that would make me as bad as Jenova, he admitted, and an alliance built on that kind of lie has no hope of lasting.

He took a deep breath, praying that his following words would be enough of an explanation. Not too much and not too little, just enough. “Your planet doesn’t see you as her enemies, so I was not sent here to kill you. I believe Gaia sent me here because this is where I need to be, because I can reach others from here.” His gaze wandered from person to person, weighing them. “Because you need her awake and able to defend herself when you and whatever allies you have aren’t enough.”

“And you believe a planet can raise some kind of defense of its own?” O’Neill questioned. “What’s it going to do, gather up a meteor belt and beat the Goa’uld to death with it?”

Yuffie couldn’t help stiffening, and felt rather than saw Cloud do the same. Just the word brought back the memory of seeing Meteor hanging in the sky, slowly drawing nearer, bringing death with it… Death, and Jenova’s victory.

But it never struck, she reminded herself. We stopped it. Cloud killed Sephiroth and it’s over. No matter how hard it is to believe at times.

“I’m not sure what it can do,” she stalled. “Gaia brought out the Lifestream and used it as a weapon, but that was after Holy –”

“Not a weapon,” Cloud interrupted, “only a defense. And a fully awake planet doesn’t need help to do it. But that’s not the key point here.” His eyes slid to the side, and though he didn’t turn his head his next words were mostly directed at Yuffie. “I was asked to wake the planets, all the planets, and I’m going to destroy these Goa’uld before I go home again.”

“What?” Yuffie couldn’t believe her ears. “That was not the deal!”

Cloud just looked at her. “They will give me nothing until they’re convinced I will keep my word. Do you really think they will be ‘convinced’ while there is a hint of a threat left?” He shook his head slightly. “They will keep me as long as they can, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Gaia has done something to improve my lifespan.”

Right then it didn’t matter that there were strangers watching; Yuffie couldn’t not hug him.

“Still such a martyr, little brother,” she murmured into his hair, clutching him tight. “You really were two of a kind.”

Cloud closed his eyes and accepted the comfort for a moment before sending a warning glare at the people watching them. He still wasn’t sure where they stood, and he didn’t trust them not to use Yuffie against him or vice versa.

“I will get you home again, sister,” he promised. “Maybe not before Godo starts to worry, but before he starts calling me Shinra-spawn for kidnapping you.”

Yuffie chuckled as she pulled back. “Even Kenya and Cirrus will need a few weeks to get back,” she agreed. “If she left at all.”

“Kenya isn’t stupid,” Cloud defended his chocobo, allowing Yuffie to sidetrack the conversation. They both needed the banter. “She’s just… She really is a mother hen.”

“But you’re awfully big for a chick.” Yuffie ruffled his hair, grinning like a fiend. “Even if you’re all yellow and fluffy.”

General Hammond cleared his throat and both turned to face him, all playfulness gone, their expressions blank and their eyes intent.

“We would like to discuss this in private,” he said. “Airmen Carey and Mallory will show to our guest quarters. If you want food or drink, just tell them.”

Cloud nodded and held back a smile. It really was amazing how politely Hammond managed to inform them that they were prisoners until further notice.

“We’ll be waiting,” he said, a note of amusement creeping into his tone. He and Yuffie stood and followed the airmen from the room.

preview of chapter 4

Jack snorted. “The guy claims he can talk to planets, Daniel. Forget trusting him; I say we put him in a straightjacket.”

Happy Birthday Asa!!

2006-11-30T18:24:00Z

It's my friend/beta Asa's birthday today. If my muses had been cooperating before this, I'd have posted the next chapter of Guardian as her gift; but the Guardian gryph has been having a rough time of it, until this fic's gryphlet decided to protect her. So, instead of chapter nine of Guardian, I'm posting the Prologue of Gypsy Dancer (title subject to change if I think of a better one)

For Gypsy-verse, I took various concepts and ideas from fics, books and songs, and meshed them all together to spawn this universe. Enjoy!!

Gypsy Dancer

Prologue

Prologue:

Cloud was ten the first time he Dreamed of them. ‘Them’ being his Other, or rather Others, the one/s who were his soulmate. When he woke from the Dreaming, his first action had been to draw the two men who would eventually complete him. He drew them as the Dream had shown them, in a rare peaceful, unguarded moment.

The darker of his two, was drawn first; a laughing man with the glowing eyes of a Shinra SOLDIER. Violet eyes, and so expressive; raven hair, as messy as his own. His eyes showed his emotions clearly. He wore black leather pants, and a tank top that matched his eyes, with worn materia bracers, and battered combat boots. The Dream had shown him leaning against a doorway, watching the lighter of his two with a mix of fondness and amusement. When he’d finished the picture-like drawing, Cloud simply wrote the man’s name; Zack. The drawing was then firmly stuck to the inner lid of his travel chest, the one that held his Tarot set and other extremely personal items.

The lighter of his two was drawn second, a somber man, with gorgeous cat-eyes that glowed like emeralds, and silver hair that flowed around him like a silk curtain. Pale skin, where Zack was tanned, and so cut off from life. Cloud knew that this one of his Others was so fragile inside. The clothes the man wore, even in relaxation showed that- like Zack, black leather pants, a blood red shirt, and a black leather jacket. The long sword never left his side, as much a part of the man as his Tarot was to Cloud. In this drawing he was seated on an overstuffed chair, looking towards Zack, a look of semi-amused resignation on his aristocratic features. He too wore battered black combat boots, and a materia equipped earring in one ear. This drawing was labeled Seph and placed alongside the first in Cloud’s chest.

Cloud never showed anyone the pictures, though the entire Tribe knew he’d Dreamed his Others. They knew better than to pry into such a personal matter. Cloud knew he wouldn’t meet them for several more years. He wasn’t worried though. They’d come to him eventually. They were his Other’s after all.

End Prologue.

TBC.

reviews greatly appreciated

FIC!!

2006-11-06T17:33:52Z

I have seriously twisted muses. this fic was inspired by this post. So without further ado, I give you 'What did I do to Deserve this?'

What Did I Do To Deserve This?

What did I do to Deserve This?

AKA the peniscake fic.

Cloud was going to kill Zack. Why the older man thought it was a good idea to give Sephiroth a birthday cake with a penis on it, he didn't know. He didn't want to know. He also wasn't sure how he' been conned into picking it up and delivering it, but he made a mental note to stop by his apartment first and pick up his cast iron skillet- he could brain Zack with it if necessary.

He was pretty sure Zack wasn’t completely responsible for the idea. Zack had been drinking with Reno before he ordered it. And Reno was… odd was being polite. ‘Utterly batshit crazy’ and ‘lunatic’ came to mind more often then not when dealing with the redheaded Turk.

So maybe he’d end up killing Reno too. It wasn’t such a bad idea… Cloud shook head to clear his thoughts. He was definitely spending to much time with those two. It was starting to affect his own sanity-though that had been questionable even before he met Zack.

Cloud looked up from his musings as he opened the door to the very prestigious bakery Zack had ordered the cake from. “I’m here to pick up an order for Zack Donovan?”

This wasn’t good. Every worker in the bakery was coming out to the front it looked like. Definitely needed to kill Zack. And Reno.

Then he saw the cake. It was very very different from what he had expected. Instead of just drawing an outline in frosting, someone had clearly had a field day. The lifelike penis jutted about three and a half inches from the top of the cake. It was ‘pierced’. And, was that a…? yes, there was a cock ring as well.

Cloud’s right eye twitched. Death was too good for Zack and Reno. He’d have to pick up his hunting knife as well; because he was going to castrate the both of them. And get them banned from anything alcoholic for a very long time.

He calmly paid for the cake, asking the clerk to give his complements to whoever decorated it, then left.

Cloud whistled as he made his way back to the Shinra compound; plans rapidly forming in his head. People quickly got out of the way of the petite blond carrying a box and whistling cheerfully with a murderous look on his face. The boy was clearly mentally unstable, and no one wanted to become the object of his ire.

*************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^*******************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^**********

Zack was planning something, Sephiroth was sure of it. It was his birthday, and he had yet to be subjected to some embarrassing display from his Second-In-Command. He truly hoped it wasn’t anything like the stripper from last year.

He was fairly certain that that red-headed Turk was in on the plan this year, as the two of them had staggered in drunk last night, laughing over something.

Sephiroth sighed resignedly. There was no use trying to get Zack to tell him what the plan was so he could avoid it. He’d simply have to suffer through it. Just like he had every year for the past three years.

********^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^******************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^***********

Zack grinned across the conference table at Reno. “Before we get too busy, I have an announcement to make.” He stated as he stood. “Today is Sephiroth’s birthday, and I decided he needed a cake.” He made his way over to the door as he spoke, opening it to reveal Cloud and a cart with the cake box on it. “So I ordered one, and had Cloud here pick it up. I thought we could all enjoy it.”

As the blonde cadet pushed the cart into the room, Sephiroth noted the heavy looking cooking utensil hanging on the side of the cart, and the hunting knife tucked into the teens’ belt. One silver eyebrow arched. Zack may not have realized that his newest ‘project’ was dangerous, but Sephiroth had no such misconceptions. The boy had let it slip once that he had spent the majority of his childhood wandering the mountains surrounding his home. There was no doubt the boy had had to deal with wild animals and the like. That he was still alive indicated a great deal of skill or luck. The well worn look of the knife and it’s sheath led him to believe it was more skill than luck.

With a longsuffering look, Cloud opened the box and lifted the cake from within. Setting it in front of Sephiroth, the blonde had the cast iron skillet off the side of the cart and acquainted with Zack’s skull in seconds. As Zack collapsed on the floor (the skillet was apparently as heavy as it looked, Sephiroth noted) the teenager had closed and locked the conference room door, and was stalking Reno; eventually just vaulting the table in order to make the Turk join Zack on the floor.

As he moved the two unconscious men up into empty seats, Cloud explained to the rather shell-shocked room. “I’m sorry about the cake Sir, I knew Zack had asked for a decoration in that shape, I just didn’t expect the bakery to do it like that. I’m fairly sure the original idea came from Reno though. Anyway, I called Zack’s girlfriend this afternoon, and she said she’d take the cake if you don’t want it Sir. Does anyone here object to my indulging in some psychological torture? I’ve got everything I need right here.” Cloud had been busy as he spoke. The two men were very securely tied to the chairs they were seated on.

Sephiroth cleared his throat. “What exactly are you planning to do?”

Cloud gave him a bright, feral grin. “I’m gonna make them think I castrated them.”

Sephiroth glanced at Rufus, then Reeve and lastly the three other Turks in the conference room. “Go right ahead. As long as there’s no lasting physical damage, it should be fine. How did you come up with that plan anyway?”

Cloud’s grin grew wider. “No, no permanent damage. I started planning as soon as I saw the cake. I stopped at Zack’s girlfriend’s place on my way back, borrowed her leg wax stuff- she said she’d take the cake if you want by the way. Anyway, I stopped at the mess hall before coming up here, one of the cooks likes me; gave me the container of blood I’m gonna use. All I’ve gotta do is wax their balls and dick, and make sure my knife has blood on it. And make sure they can smell burnt flesh when they wake up.”

As he detailed his plan, Cloud had been busy. Pulling out a Seal, he had cast Sleep on the two unconscious men, making sure they wouldn’t wake before he was done. He wrestled their pants down around their thighs, giving him perfect access to his targets. Then he had moved on to the box he’d got from Aeris, reading the directions as he absentmindedly poured lighter fluid and nail polish remover into a bowl. He quickly and efficiently followed the directions on the box, causing several winces as he ripped the cloth strips away with sadistic glee. That aspect having been done, he moved on, pulling a raw chunk of meat from the lower half of the cart. Dumping it in a shallow bowl, he poured the lighter fluid/nail polish remover mix over it and lit it with a match. With a soft ‘fwoosh’ the bowl lit with flames and the acrid scent of burning flesh filled the room. Cloud then unsheathed his knife and liberally coated it with blood from the container, carefully splashing some on the floor and on Zack and Reno.

The final item he pulled from the lower section of the serving cart was a plate with two sets of testicles on it. “Got to make it look realistic.” was his only comment. Apparently deeming the scent of burnt flesh adequate, he doused the burning bowl, and waved it under Zack’s nose first, then Reno’s . As they stirred, he put the bowl back on the lower section of the cart and dipped his hands in the blood container; then sat down on the conference table.

*******************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^**************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^********

Ow. Why did his dick hurt? And what had Spike hit him with? Zack moaned as he came around, Reno’s groans sounding in his ear. When his vision cleared, he found himself staring at Cloud, who was seated on the conference table, a bloody knife held in equally blood covered hands. And there were two sets of balls on a plate next to him.

It took a minute for everything to register and click together in his mind. When it did he panicked and could only make incoherent noises, which was followed by Reno’s panicked shriek.

************^^^^^^^^^^^^^*********************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^*************

Cloud watched as Zack put everything together and grinned at the noises he made.

“You really shouldn’t have pissed me off Zack. Maybe you’ll think twice about pulling stunts like this again in the future. I’m sure Aeris will like the changes as well- I did get her permission after all.”

Zack whimpered. Reno just hunkered down as best as he could given that both men were still tied up. Cloud’s grin grew distinctly feral. “Really, you should thank me. It could have been worse you know. The General could have just assigned you to permanent duty in Hojo’s lab. I’m sure you’d have just loved dealing with all the experiments. Some of them might have even ended up being on you!”

Cloud watched in amusement as the two idiots went through varying stages of shock and horror before Sephiroth finally cleared his throat and gave a pointed look. He sighed.

“All right, Sir. Both of you relax. You’re still completely ‘whole’. I just made it seem like I’d castrated you. None of the blood is yours. Neither are the balls on the plate. I got those and the meat I burned from one of the cooks. I waxed you down there so that there would be lingering pain and sensitivity to give the illusion I’d actually done it.” Cloud wiped the blood from his hands and began cleaning the knife. “Don’t decide your pranks when you’re drunk next time, kay? I’ve got to get this stuff put away, so I’ll let you all get on with your meeting.” Cloud sheathed his knife and turned to Sephiroth. “Sir, do you want me to deliver that cake to Zack’s girlfriend, or would you rather keep it?’

Sephiroth looked at the cake still sitting in front of him. “Go ahead and take it to Miss Gainsborough, Strife. I’m sure she’ll enjoy it more.”

“Yes sir, I’ll do that then.” Cloud hopped off the conference table and pushed the cart over to the door, stopping to rebox the cake. “Happy Birthday, Sir. Ta Zack, see you when you get home.” With that, Cloud bounced out the door, leaving Zack and Reno still tied to their chairs.

End.

um... feedback greatly appreciated.

gryphonchik @ 2006-10-23T14:01:00

2006-10-23T18:02:30Z

WHEE!!! I finally got permission to post chapter two of Planet's Protector! (Asa says thank you to everyone who reviewed, and sends her apologies for taking so long to update!) here it is, in all it's glory!!

Planet's Protector

Previous Chapters:
Prologue
Chapter One

Chapter Two

Planets' Protector

chapter 2

“Incoming traveler!”

The sound of the gate claxon was familiar, but still annoying. Jack glanced at his watch and frowned. There were no teams due back now, were there? Hammond rising from his seat with a curt ‘dismissed’ and hurrying down to the command room answered the question eloquently enough. The members of SG-1 followed close behind, leaving their briefing folders on the table.

“We have three chevrons so far, sir,” Davis reported.

One by one the remaining chevrons locked – but the ring didn’t stop spinning when it reached seven. The SGC personnel traded worried looks as the eighth symbol locked and the wormhole stabilized. They knew what the longer address meant.

“Close the iris,” Hammond ordered. “Is it the same planet Colonel O’Neill went to?”

“No, sir,” Sam began only to cut herself off as a pulsating green light surrounded the stargate. The iris halted for a moment before the plates retracted, leaving the gate open.

“What’s happening?” Hammond demanded, not taking his eyes off the gate room.

“We don’t know, sir,” Davis replied. “The iris is trying to close, it just… can’t.”

Two people came through the wormhole, the slight girl of Asian features leading the way holding some kind of oversized throwing star. Before any of SGC could get a good look at her or her weapon, she was pulled behind the blonde man dressed in black who’d followed her. A massive sword nearly as long as he was tall was drawn from a sheath at his back as the blonde settled into a defensive stance. A second sword, angled for a left-handed draw, was left in place. His eyes swept the room, no doubt taking in the placement of exits and enemies, but he made no move to attack. Behind him the wormhole closed. The light flared, arched like lightning from the gate and struck him.

“Cloud!” The girl screamed, reaching forward only to yank her hand back as green energy snapped at her.

“Hold your fire!” Hammond ordered, allowing himself to feel relieved when his men obeyed. Whoever the intruders were, the girl was obviously distressed by what was happening to her companion. They might be refugees rather than enemies, and as long as they didn’t turn hostile Hammond was willing to give them the benefit of a doubt.

“Major Carter, Dr. Jackson, follow me,” he ordered, not surprised that neither Jack nor Teal’c stayed behind.

The blast doors opened to let them into the gate room just as the sword fell from nerveless fingers, clattering against the ramp. The blonde remained on his feet, though swaying as if standing in a strong wind. He tilted his head back, delicate face blank and eyes wide, but it didn’t look like he was seeing anything. The girl had shifted to his side, ready to move between the blonde and the airmen aiming at him. She was clearly worried about her friend, but not so preoccupied by what was happening that she’d give her back to the enemy. She turned her head to watch Hammond and SG-1 enter the room, eyes cold and calculating as her grip on her weapon tightened.

That’s more than training. That’s training ingrained by experience, Jack realized with a start. Sickened by the thought of what could make a face so young have such old eyes.

“General Hammond,” Teal’c said, “I believe his eyes are glowing.”

“What?” Hammond squinted, but couldn’t make out any glow aside from the green. “Can you sense a Goa’uld from this distance?”

“Unfortunately not,” Teal’c said.

Sam shook her head. “Me neither, sir. But we know that not all Goa’uld have –”

“Stop it!” the girl snarled at them. “Stop talking as if he’s an enemy! He’s hurting because he’s a thrice-damned fool who can’t say no to people, and the least you could do is show a little gratitude!”

There was a moment of stunned silence.

“You know what’s happening?” Sam asked, fascinated by the light surrounding or perhaps emanating from the man.

“Of course I do!” The girl glanced at her friend then back at Sam. “I might not understand the way he does, but I’m not blind.”

“Assume we are,” Jack said.

Briefly wondering if he’d spent too much time around Jack’s sarcasm since he felt a bit tempted to echo that, Hammond prompted, “Explain it to us.”

The girl tensed, frowning at them. “You really don’t know?”

“No,” Hammond replied honestly.

Somehow, that seemed to set her on edge. “Who are you? How did you get here?” she demanded, making Jack snort at the irony.

“You’re the one who breeched our gate to come to our planet, so I don’t think we owe you anything.”

“You’re natives to this planet?” The girl lowered her weapon and relaxed slightly, bowing her head in an oddly respectful manner. “I am Yuffie Kisaragi of Wutai, on the planet Gaia. My not-so-talkative brother is Cloud Strife.”

“Brother?” Sam looked from Yuffie to Strife. Though they were both short and slender, they didn’t look related.

“We’re not blood, but we’re family,” Yuffie clarified. She bit her lip thoughtfully. “Would you mind telling me what planet we’re on?”

If they have our coordinates, the name certainly can’t do any harm, Hammond reasoned with himself. “Earth.”

“You might be more familiar with the name Tau’ri,” Daniel added.

“Never heard of either,” Yuffie said carelessly, before frowning again. “You call your planet Earth? That’s as lame as us calling ours Planet, and I doubt she was happy about that.”

“You didn’t mean to come here?” Hammond interrupted, genuinely confused. If they had the foresight and the knowledge to block the iris, something the Goa’uld had failed to do, how could they not have come to Earth purposely?

“We didn’t open the portal. As far as I know, it has never been used before. Someone would have talked if they’d realized what it was.” Dark eyes glanced about the room. “But from the look of this setup, you know how to operate yours.”

“You didn’t know where you were going?” Jack asked incredulously. “That didn’t feel at all stupid to you?”

“Hey!” Yuffie looked every inch an indignant teenager, one hand on her hip while the other – still holding the odd weapon – gestured at the blonde still standing surrounded by green light. “Gaia asked him to go, and while I doubt she told him much, I didn’t get to hear any of it. I just refused to let him go alone.” She sighed. “He lets her talk him into so much he should just say no to.”

“Gaia?” Daniel repeated. An Earth goddess in Greek mythology, but… “Wasn’t that the name of your planet?”

“Yes.”

“Excuse me?” Jack ignored the exasperated look Daniel gave him. “You think a planet talks to you?”

“No-o,” Yuffie said with exaggerated patience. “That was my point; I don’t know anything because she doesn’t speak to me. Only to Cloud.”

“And that’s what he’s doing now?” Hammond sounded as skeptical as he felt. “Talking to your planet?”

“To yours, most likely.” She glanced at Strife again. “Look, are we going to fight or not? I have no interest in it, but if that’s what you want, I’d rather get it out of the way.”

“We don’t want to fight anymore than –” Hammond cut himself off as the green light abruptly died and blue eyes met his. Teal’c was right, he thought worriedly, his eyes do glow.

“It’s alright, Yuffie,” Strife said, his voice surprisingly soft. “They are not her enemies. But they can help us find the ones who are hurting her sisters.” He bent to pick his sword up, moving slowly as not to startle the airmen. Looking as harmless as one can while holding an impossibly large sword, he returned it to his back.

“I’m General Hammond, head of this command, and I’m afraid that I can’t let you go around my base armed until we know more about you.”

The blonde pointedly looked around the room, at the number of people in it, before his gaze locked with Hammond’s again. “Your word as General that you will do us no harm, and I’ll give you my sword.”

Hammond wasn’t sure how far to trust that promise, but standing in the gate room wouldn’t get them anywhere. And he needed some answers. “You have my word.”

Strife shifted his grip and removed the three colored glass orbs set in slots along the blade, slipping them into a pouch at his belt. He met Teal’c’s eyes. “You with the gold symbol. You can probably carry it.”

Glancing at Hammond to see if he would object, Teal’c walked up the ramp. Standing scant feet apart, he towered over Strife, but the blonde didn’t look intimidated as he offered the sword hilt first. Teal’c took it, eyes widening at the weight, but he didn’t stagger.

“It is an impressive weapon,” he said, bowing his head in respect of the strength now made obvious. “I will return it to you in the same state I received it.”

Some of the tension drained from Strife’s frame. “I don’t doubt it.” He glanced down at the displeased looking Yuffie.

“I’m not handing over the Conformer to one of you sword-obsessed people,” she said, nearly pouting.

“I’ll take it,” Jack offered. As he came up the ramp, he was surprised to see the star had slots like the ones on Strife’s sword, only two of the eight occupied. One green and one blue orb set next to each other, faintly luminescent when seen this close. It made him look twice at the various orbs in the strangers’ wristbands, especially since Yuffie removed the ones from her weapon with practiced ease, not even looking.

He wasn’t the only one to notice. Sam didn’t understand what use they could be, but that was common with alien technology. She edged closer to Hammond and murmured, “Sir, I recommend we remove those spheres. We don’t know what they are, or what damage they can cause.”

Hammond quietly agreed with the assessment, and looked back up at the travelers in time to see Yuffie tugging at one strap of her backpack. Strife – to Hammond’s astonishment – glanced a question at Teal’c and the Jaffa nodded in response. “It will be safe until you reclaim it.”

Strife quirked a smile at him. “Thank you.” He looked toward Hammond while Yuffie handed the pack over to Jack. “We will answer your questions about our purpose here.”

Jack frowned. It was just too easy, and that meant there was a catch somewhere. “What about that other sword?”

Surprising everyone, Teal’c spoke up first. “We have a warrior’s word. He will not break it.” He met Jack’s eyes calmly.

Strife looked… impressed by that, and Yuffie groaned. “Now you’ve done it.”

“Done what?” Daniel asked, wondering if the words had some kind of ritual or cultural meaning.

“First chance they get, they’ll be sparring.”

“I would enjoy such a battle,” Teal’c admitted.

Strife nodded, eyes glowing brighter. “When your commander has allowed me my blade back.” He turned to Jack and raised his left hand to touch the hilt of his remaining sword, lingering on it. “I no longer fight with this. It’s for remembrance.”

Yuffie stepped closer, brushed her hand over his. Strife blinked and looked down at her, letting his hand fall to his side again. “You okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Hammond cut in, deciding not to mention the glass spheres. If Teal’c had managed to find some common ground with Strife, Hammond did not want to break that trust by gainsaying him. “If you’ll follow me to the infirmary so Dr. Frasier can have a look at you –”

“No.” The malice in that single word made the airmen tighten their grip on their guns.

“I must insist on a medical examination,” Hammond said, undaunted by the look on Strife’s face. “We need to be certain you’re not Goa’uld, and that you’re not carrying any diseases we have no resistance to.”

Strife’s teeth bared in a snarl. “I will not be dissected by your scientists.”

“I don’t care who you are,” Yuffie said, shifting into ready stance, “I’m not letting you do that to him again.”

Hammond frowned, more at the implication of what Strife had been through than at the accusation to himself. “That’s not our intention. It’s strictly a security measure, and nothing invasive.”

“Swear to me that there will be no experiments,” Strife said, “and that you will destroy all information about us once you see we aren’t a danger to you.”

“I swear.” Hammond felt like the words were forced out of him, as if he couldn’t have refused the request if he’d wanted to.

The pair exchanged a glance before Strife nodded, though they kept a wary eye on the soldiers as they were escorted through the base. Hammond couldn’t blame them any more than he could keep himself from trying to question them as they rode the elevator up to the infirmary level.

“You said you didn’t come here to fight us. What other reason do you have? We’ve never been to your galaxy.”

Strife’s eyes widened. “We’ve come so far? No wonder I could… It explains things.” He looked at Yuffie. “She didn’t tell me much. It’s been so long since the Cetra left her she doesn’t remember how to speak. She had to do things more directly and… it upset some old memories.”

“We will have words about that,” Yuffie stated with deceptive calm. “A lot of words.”

Cloud nodded. “And a few more about you abandoning your responsibilities.”

“I didn’t abandon anything. I left Wutai in the hands of its very capable lord who has never made a move to include me in his duties, official or otherwise, to go with my brother who has a history of letting women talk him into doing stupid things. Starting with Tifa and ending with Gaia, you just don’t have any sense.”

The small smile he gave her as they exited the elevator was sad and gentle. “But those stupid things gave me more than I ever hoped to have. And even if I’d never joined Shinra, I most likely would have died in Nibelheim, by Sephiroth’s hand or the villagers’. You know that.”

Feeling that the current line of conversation should be private, Hammond asked, “Are you saying you were supposed to rule your country, Ms. Kisaragi?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “Yuffie will be fine. And while I won the right of it, I think everyone will be happier to have my father stay in control. I certainly don’t want the responsibility.”

Jack and Hammond looked at each other, both suspicious and well aware that if these people were possible allies, the General couldn’t afford to offend them.

“And you have no problem sharing all of this with us?” Jack asked, testing the ground. “It doesn’t bother you to tell us you’d make a valuable hostage if we prove to be enemies?”

“Gaia took the gate back once we were through. Any information of our world is useless to you because no one will be able to travel there until she wishes them to.” Strife looked at Hammond rather than Jack, proving he understood who was really asking. “She doesn’t slumber like your planet does. We forced her to wake and defend herself, just as this one will.”

The group split up outside the infirmary, Jack and Teal’c going lock the weapons away and hand Yuffie’s pack over to the research staff while the others headed inside. Strife tensed, but his expression remained blank and he looked determined not to back down. Janet came to meet them, a question in her eyes.

“Dr. Frasier, I need you to check our guests for Goa’uld parasites, and any other surprises you can think of.”

“If Sam and Teal’c don’t sense anything –”

“After P3X-888, we’re not risking it,” Sam explained, referring to the recently discovered Goa’uld homeworld, where the symbiotes didn’t have the revealing naquada in their system.

“And if the results are clear, I want them destroyed,” Hammond added.

“Yes, sir.” Janet nodded. Though unusual, it was hardly the strangest order she’d ever received. “This way, then.”

She explained the ultrasound and its purpose and the simplicity of the procedure seemed to calm the travelers, though the mention of blood samples made Yuffie cast worried glances at Strife.

“I’m afraid it’s necessary,” Janet said. “I can’t let you go before I know you’re not carrying any alien bugs we’re sensitive to.”

Yuffie volunteered to go first, Strife watching Janet as if afraid she’d kill the girl the moment he took his eyes off her. The scan was quickly completed, the blood drawn, and Yuffie bounced to her feet, smiling cheerfully as she made Cloud sit down in her place. No one missed the way she kept her hand on his arm.

“It’ll be over in no time,” she said. “Just let the lady doctor work and we’ll be out of here and saving the world again before you know it. And did you see she’s actually my height? Isn’t that neat? I was starting to think we’d be the shortest people on this whole planet, but I might even have an inch on her – hard to tell with those shoes she wears. She’s got kind eyes, too, so you know she’s actually a doctor and not a scientist. Wouldn’t like to be her patient, though, because I’ll bet you my Leviathan that she’ll keep you on bed rest long after you’re ready to go hunting spirals just to be on the safe side – Great, you’re done!”

Strife rose slowly, eyes on Janet. She gave him a reassuring smile, used to having patients in a rush to leave but never wary of her to the extent this young man was.

“We’re done,” she affirmed, then directed her report to Hammond. “Neither are hosts, and I’ll have the samples analyzed as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you, Dr. Frasier.” Hammond gestured for everyone to follow him, but Strife stayed and watched her still, too-bright eyes unblinking.

“It was wrong to think you were a scientist. I’ll try to remember you’re a healer.”

“Thank you,” Janet said, realizing the compliment but not understanding the distinction.

Strife nodded to her and left the infirmary, Yuffie close enough to his side that their hands brushed together.

Janet stood staring at the door for a moment after it had shut behind them. Shaking her head, she went to work on the blood samples.

and a small preview:

“And you believe a planet can raise some kind of defense of its own?” O’Neill questioned. “What’s it going to do, gather up a meteor belt and beat the Goa’uld to death with it?”

gryphonchik @ 2006-09-21T19:41:00

2006-09-21T23:42:53Z

Title: Wondering
Pairing: Zack/Cloud
Summary: pre-Nibelheim. Even happiness leaves room for questions.

Wondering

Being with Cloud is better than anything he’s ever known before, Zack has decided. Just seeing that reserved, wary face light up in a smile as blue eyes glow without the aid of mako every time the blonde sees him makes Zack feel like he’s found the greatest treasure in the world.

He’s not sure what he did to deserve to have Cloud trust and care for him the way he does, but Zack’s never been one to worry about such things.

Instead he enjoys his lover’s company, the sense of humor that will only make itself known when they’re alone, the way innocent startlement gives way to happiness each time Zack says “I love you”.

If he were prone to introspection, he would admit he’s just a bit smug about being Cloud’s first lover, having stolen his first kiss even. As it is, he concentrates on how wonderful it is to kiss Cloud, to cuddle with him and fall asleep with his head pillowed on Zack’s shoulder. How it makes his heart swell each time Cloud dares to initiate a hug or a kiss. How it’s all he can do to continue feigning sleep when Cloud whispers “love you too” in the dark of the night. How perfect it is to hold him close, to be inside him as Cloud wraps arms and legs around him, to listen to those gasps and moans that are uniquely Cloud’s.

Any one of these things are better than any companionship or pleasure he’s found with women, with his fellow SOLDIERs or even with Sephiroth.

Zack’s been gentle before, but he’s never made love the way he does with Cloud. And when they’re moving together slowly, almost lazily, as if they have all the time in the world to enjoy each other, he can’t help but wonder what the difference is. He wonders why that particular gentleness breaks down Cloud’s walls and reservations. He wonders why it’s enough to make his shy, reticent lover look at him with too-bright eyes and speak words of love he would otherwise never say when he knows Zack can hear him.

He wonders what that gentleness would do to him if their roles were reversed, for what walls does he have where Cloud is concerned?

And for perhaps the first time in his life, Zack is afraid to ask for what he wants.

gryphonchik @ 2006-09-21T19:38:00

2006-09-21T23:41:05Z

Title: Shiva's Lover
Pairing: SquallxShiva
Summary: Can't think of one

Shiva's Lover

The younger cadets were always talking amongst themselves, gossiping whenever Squall walked past them. The older ones were more circumspect, the SeeDs were careful to change the subject to weapons or training when he got close. It amused him, in a detached sort of way. Did they truly think he had such poor hearing as to be ignorant of their interest in him?

“Shiva’s lover”, they called him. “Leonhartless”, Seifer had named him. “A cold-hearted, insensitive jerk”, Rinoa had screamed at him. The stern line of his mouth relaxed, full lips barely hinting at a smile as he opened the door to his apartment.

They have no idea how right they are, he thought, a low chuckle escaping him as soon as the door had closed behind him.

This two-room apartment was the only place he felt perfectly at ease. No expectations, no clingy women – or men, for that matter – and no responsibilities. Here, there were only him and her.

The few who had dared enter his sanctuary had complained about the lack of heating and never come again. That was exactly the way Squall wanted it.

He didn’t need people, and he didn’t want them.

Taking off his boots and his jacket, he made his way into the bedroom. The large bed covered in silk sheets was the only luxury he’d bought for himself after the war. And that was only because she insisted. She liked how it felt, and liked the way he looked against it even more.

He stripped off his remaining clothes, folded them and laid them on the chair in the corner. With a sigh, he slipped under the sheets. Crystalline laughter filled his mind, soothing away the tension he’d gathered during the meeting with Cid.

Finally alone, lover. Shiva’s voice was as cold as ever, smooth as the ice she commanded.

I’ve been waiting for this, Squall told her.

You know I’ll never leave you.

Smiling at her words, he enjoyed her presence inside of him before his senses blended with hers and he was no longer sure who was inside of whom.

There was no heat of passion between them, none of the fireworks that others spoke of. No battle of dominance, no challenges or insecurities. There was no place for Squall or Shiva, only two minds seamlessly joined, two hearts incased in the same ice.

In that unity there was beauty like sparkling, snow-covered fields, stretching as far as the eye could see. There was cool fulfillment of desire and chill pleasure.

And when morning came, and they were forced to become incomplete, connected but distanced from each other, their united thought remained a truth in both minds.

I love you forever.

Beautiful Broken

Dragons!

ah, why not.

*headdesk* coudn't resist

gryphonchik @ 2008-03-01T07:01:00

gryphonchik @ 2007-05-22T13:56:00

Protector

Planets' Protector

chapter 3

Happy Birthday Asa!!

FIC!!

gryphonchik @ 2006-10-23T14:01:00

Planets' Protector

chapter 2

gryphonchik @ 2006-09-21T19:41:00

Wondering

gryphonchik @ 2006-09-21T19:38:00

Shiva's Lover

headdesk coudn't resist