Final Fantasy Tranquil Beauty (Sephiroth X Reader)

Tranquil Beauty Chapter 5

    I couldn't breathe... Why couldn't I breathe? Why was I having such a hard time? Then I remembered how I got myself into this predicament.
After a few struggled attempts at getting up I decided to lay there for a moment. I felt heavy but after a few more attempts I was able to lift myself up out of the sand that I was shallowly buried in.
    I sat myself up trying my best to lift my head up so that I can try and focus my eyes. Everything was so blurry and every inch of my body was hurting. My cardigan was torn and I wasn't too sure why I still clung onto it. Maybe comfort? It was the only "shelter" that I had.
    I finally was able to get to my feet only realizing that I was alone. There was absolutely no one in sight. I took a few steps forward and realized that there were a few desert trees and cactus's huddled together. For now I decided that I would "camp" out there.
    As I sat down I leaned against the tree. The night was drawing near and it was starting to get chilly. Exhaustion was starting to get to me and I barely had enough strength to breathe. I tilt my head to the side assuming there was something there to catch it; there was nothing and I fell to my side. As I laid there flashes of Sephiroth ran through my mind. How he held me, the worried expression on his face, how we were so...close. Of all people to run through my mind before I die why him? Maybe because this whole time I was afraid of him and then in an instance he shows this kindness. But of course what kind of General would not look out for his own. He was protecting me because I was part of the team. He would do the same for Aerith, Seloria, or Crys if they were on this mission. But none of that mattered; I was alone and out of energy. I just hope and pray that they made it out just fine. Sand worms are enemies you do not reckon with. In one breath it can blow you away, which is my case, or devour you.
    As I slowly doze off to sleep I hear a muffled sound from a distance. After a few moments it grew closer and closer. My heart started to beat faster grasping the idea that this could be an enemy. I was not anywhere close to prepared to face it. As I lift my head up to focus on the figure that was nearing me I slowly start to piece the blur together.
As if just hovering over the sand; this being is truly a spectacle to be looked at. As the moon lit his face his hair falls into place with every step he took. Though on his end he looked roughed up he still kept his composure pristine. Sephiroth. Why... Am I dreaming? Is this a start of a nightmare? Am I starting to get delusional due to my starvation and lack of life? He falls to his knees and just gazes at me my expression blank. The illusion reaches its hand out and cups my face in its large hands. Right then I realized he wasn't an illusion and an overwhelming rush of emotion envelopes me as my eyes blur again with tears as big as pearls rolling down my face.
    I wrap my arms around Sephiroth and bury my face into his chest. He wraps one arm around my body and the other grabs the back of my head pulling me closer to him. By this time I'm hysterically crying but instead of fear and pain it was of happiness. I feel him give a sigh of relief and gently loosens his hold on me. I look up our faces almost touching. I smile and I say almost in a whisper "You found me."
    "Can you stand?" Sephiroth's voice trembles as if it was his first time speaking. He has now positioned his arms into a carrying motion. He grabs my elbows holding my forearms steady as he gently raises me off the ground.
    I tried my best to hold myself together. Trying to stay alive took everything from me so standing and showing him that I'm just fine is proving futile. As he releases to let me stand on my own I quickly lose balance and collapse back down to the ground. But before hitting the ground he catches my fall. Now on my knees, my head felt like it was going to just roll off my neck. He holds my head steady while tucking my hair that fell into my face gently behind my ears.
    "Here take this, it'll help." Sephiroth reaches into his pocket and hands me a potion. I'm usually the one handing these out so I've never really had one before. As my dizziness increases my eyes involuntary shuts to try to diminish the nauseating sensation. He takes back the vile and holds my head back as he places the opening to my mouth.
    Moments pass and I feel the potion take effect. I stand myself up and brush the dirt from my knees and bottom. I look up to Sephiroth and give him a reassuring smile. As we start our walk back to the camp the night sky soars above us as the moon and stars shines a light as if guiding us to the correct direction.
    The walk back was quiet. No words were exchanged between us. Occasionally he would stop and turn back to make certain that I was faring well. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask but before anything else I wanted to make sure he was well. He had a few minor cuts and scrapes on his face, chest, and arms but what had me concerned was the gash on his back. His tattered coat giving only minimal view so I was not certain if it was a major wound. I was concentrating so much on him that I did not realize there was dip in the ground. I lose my balancing and prepare myself to fall but in the blink of an eye Sephiroth comes up behind me wrapping his arms around my stomach. Feeling his warm touch, my thin shirt and his frayed gloves the only barrier between our skins touching, made me feel like my heart was going to burst out of my chest. As quick as my heart was beating, he sets me back on my feet and we continue on.
    I could tell we were nearing the camp; I could hear the fire crackling and everyone chattering with one another. I couldn't find the courage to stand beside Sephiroth so I stood behind him as we drew closer.
    "Sephiroth! What the hell?! You said that you would be back in an hour so we could take turns looking for her?!" Cloud exclaimed as he rushes towards him.
    "All is well." Sephiroth says as he moves towards an empty spot in the circle. As he exposes me to the group. I slowly raise a hand and wave hello.
Cloud runs up to me and pulls me into an embrace. He moves my hair out of the way of my face and inspects it to make sure that I was not hurt.
    "Cloud I'm fine..." I told him, flashing a reassuring smile to further prove that I was doing well. Cloud and I weren't very close but I know he worries about me. He is very good friends with Seloria and Crys and knowing how protective they are they probably told him to watch over me. There were also a few occasions where I assisted him with training and a few times where he came to our classes to teach. Like I said, not very close but comfortable enough. He takes my hand and leads me to Aerith. I see Sephiroth through my peripheral view he has his eyes on me, even when he is far from me I feel as if he is just hovering, lingering, watching me, judging me.
    "(Your name)! Oh...I was so worried!" Aerith says as her eyes start to glisten over. I tell her I'm fine and that she had nothing to worry about. She sits me down and starts to heal the minor wounds and bruises that I had on my legs, arms and face. As she is doing this I over hear the conversation regarding the fight with the Sand Worm. It appears that Sephiroth did take on the worm by himself. Once he impaired its ability to call for the sand storm he was able to regroup everyone for a final attack. He's an amazing tactician and a strong SOLDIER. I was somewhat disappointed that I was not able to witness it.
    "Oh! Sephiroth! I haven't checked you yet. Let me heal your wounds." Aerith turns to him and beckons him to come to her.
    "No. I'm alright." Sephiroth says as he gets up and starts walking off, "I'll take the first watch." He finishes saying as he disappears into the night.
    Without thinking I get up and start following him. As I walk closer and closer to where he decided to stand watch I realized that my time spent with Sephiroth is always me just gazing at his back. As I stood there next to him we both stare off in the distance as if there was something compelling us to look that direction. After a few moments of awkward silence I finally summoned enough strength to say something.
    "Thank you...for protecting me...and saving me..." I slowly turn my head to look at him his gaze not breaking from the horizon. "I'm really glad you found me..." I felt so anxious it was like my words were not reaching him. I had no idea what compelled me to keep talking but I just kept going, as if I was begging to dig my own grave.
    "Sephiroth, you should have Aerith look at you. The fight you had seemed strenuous and the last thing any of us would want is for any of your wounds to become infected."
He looks at me disregarding everything that I just asked and said to him. He starts to walk away his strides long and steady. Not taking another moment to think I chase after him my legs carrying me as if it was the only thing I was capable of doing.
    "Please wait...don't go..." I stand there dumbfounded that these words can come out of my mouth. As I stand there struggling for words to follow up with I notice that Sephiroth started turning back around my way. The expression on his face is that of dismay. Please don't look at me that way, was all I could think.
    "Please...you're still hurt... At least let me heal you..." he says nothing as my expression turns from worry to unease. But my first and foremost duty is to make sure that he is healed. Since he said nothing I assumed that it was alright. I walk close to him then holding on to his arm, to ensure that he won't walk away, I slowly walk myself behind him. Drawing the power within me I gradually start to hover my hand over his back. Feeling for smaller wounds that wouldn't take too much of my energy if needing to be healed before making my way to gash that the Sand Worm inflicted on him. Then after finishing I take a step back to ensure that I had gotten all the injuries.
    I walk back around to face him. His eyes not faltering; not losing sight of me. His every being so intimidating, sometimes I feel his gaze is that of a predator. A snake ready to pounce on its prey. Here I am, it's tiny prey, trying to heal his injuries knowing the wrong move can be my end. I slowly raise my hand to his face again drawing power from within. Before I can touch his face to begin he grabs my wrists to stop me, again his gaze not faltering. "Please..." I say under my breath. He drops his hold and I continue. My heart was beating so rapidly I felt as if my whole body was on fire. I hover my hands over his face my fingertips caressing his forehead, my palms brushing his cheeks. This whole time he does not break his eyes from me. No words of gratitude or any of the sort were exchanged just his predatory gaze upon me. After I finish he takes a step back and walks back to camp.
    When I got back to camp I felt everyone's eyes fall on me. I felt their curiosity peak but had to do my best to shake it off. I sat next to Aerith and she leans closer to me and then asking in a whisper "(Your name)...Sephiroth let you heal him?" she looks at me with questioning eyes. I simply nodded. Her expression changed to astonishment. Before she could say anything else she was interrupted by Genesis. ""Here take this. It's going to be cold." He proceeds to hand Aerith his coat. She turns to me and says "We can share!" as she grins my way. She starts to cover both of us but before the coat could hang over my body my arm is grabbed and I am snatched up forcing me to stand. I wasn't too sure how he got behind me; he was there in an instance. Sephiroth proceeds to remove his coat and drapes it over my body then as quick as he was there he was gone walking away from camp, away from everyone's stares.
    At this moment my head is spiraling out of control, I was perplexed and overwhelmed by his actions. From the beginning of this mission to now, how he has been treating me is most frustrating. Everyone stares, taken aback from what just unfolded in front of them. As my face turns into a flustered expression I throw the coat over my head and proceed to lay down in hopes of falling asleep soon.
    I was drained of everything. All I could do was drown myself in the masculine sweet scent that lingered in his coat. Before I knew it I dozed off hoping that I would regain my energy back in the morning.
    As sunlight touched my face I shyly open my eyes. I sit myself up and gather my hair to one side of my head as I slowly stretch my limbs. I look around and everyone was doing somewhat the same. I got up, dusted Sephiroth's coat and slowly walk to him. As if not wanting to anger the predator I make light of my steps. He stands looking off to the distance with his hands firmly placed on his hips. I hand him his coat while thanking him and he wears it back with one swift movement. His attention goes from me then to the back to examine everyone's status.
    "Let's go." Without any doubt or uncertainty I follow as he leads the way to our desired destination; Nachahmen.