control your fate

"Warping, usually." He admitted with a sheepish smile. Not the most noble use of the Crystal's magic, but hey, he'd be a fool not to make use of one of the best tools in his arsenal. Warping just opened up routes that would never be possible otherwise. He'd almost given a pair of maids a heart attack when he had warped into the gardens from a third story window. He'd been fine of course, but his father had made him apologise for scaring them.

"Yeah. It didn't really make much difference to them, but it made mornings a bit less of a spectacle. Felt more normal too. For me, at least." Noctis had actually felt almost like a normal kid during the journey to and from school with Prompto. Of course school itself had been terrible. Teachers were nervous around him, and other kids just wanted to be friends with him so they could say they were tight with the Prince.

"Food sounds good." He tensed briefly when Nyx's hand came to rest on his back. He was always a little funny about people touching his back. It was a weak spot, he supposed. Vulnerable. Noctis trusted Nyx though, and after the initial jolt, he relaxed, almost leaning into it.

"What sort of shops are there?" He asked. He was curious Nyx had claimed they were different to what could be found in the rest of the city. He liked the sound of the garden too. He'd always liked the garden back at the Citadel. He wasn't too interested in flowers, but he appreciated the quiet.

"Yeah, will do. But feel free to point things out. You know better than I what's worth taking a look at, right?"

They made it onto the train without any issues. Noctis's travel card still functioned as it should and nobody seemed to pay much attention to him which was good.

Nyx should have expected that answer, if he had thought about it for longer than a second. Warping was the perfect way to escape and since Noctis was usually guarded by the Crownsguard, people unable to access the magic, well – it made for a smooth escape. It was part of what Nyx loved about warping, the ability to go whichever direction he wanted. He didn't always get how the magic worked, but he had still done his best to master it as much as he could.

"Huh, sounds fun. Maybe we should do warp tag sometime. See how long it'd take for me to catch you," he suggested, already making plans. It would be a fun way to work out, that was for sure. He had a feeling Noctis would like it as well.

Nyx noticed that Noctis tensed when he touched his back, but he kept the touch gentle and was glad to see that the prince eventually relaxed. There was a story there, one Nyx had a guess at, but he wasn't going to pry. At the moment he only cared about the younger male's comfort and if he had continued to show unease, then he would have removed his hand.

"The type of shops that specialise in handcrafts and artisan goods. It's what we're good at, y'know? We didn't do the whole mass-production thing back home. We all had our own thing," he explained, voice fond. "My family specialised in hunting. Then we'd cure the skins and leathers and sell them to other families who would turn them into clothing or other items – and so forth." It was definitely old-fashioned, but Nyx loved it. Not to say that the technology in Insomnia wasn't impressive, but Nyx could live without it. That wasn't to say that they were completely primitive, of course, even if some Insomnians liked to believe so.

"You see the glass beads in my hair? They were handcrafted from fulgurite found on the different beaches in Galahd. I modified my Kingsglaive uniform with handcrafted stuff from home as well." Some might say that it made him stand out too much, but Nyx wanted to honour his home whenever he was on the battlefield.

Either way, he was excited to show Noctis everything. He hoped the prince would come to appreciate their culture.

The train ride passed without problem and soon they were in the slums. "Not far – maybe a five minute walk. C'mon, it's this way," he carefully but his hand on Noctis' back again and started to guide him. The further they got to Yamachang's, the more colourful their surroundings got. There were people everywhere, trying to attract customers with their wares. The scent of spices permeated the air. People were catching up with each other, children running around – it felt like home, as much as it could in Insomnia.

Nyx waved to people as they passed – and they looked at Noctis curiously, but didn't seem to recognise him just yet.

"As you can see – things get pretty lively down here."

Zack couldn't parse, not fully, what he was asking about. What was what, exactly? Something about all of that luminated three different question marks in his head, but Zack doesn't know enough of the question to ask about it. His lips felt every bit like he thought they would, but had Zack thought about it? Anyone would assume their velvety texture, softness that comes from care. Anyone would think that, not just him. Yet, as Zack takes a step back, swipes his tongue over his bottom lip, he thinks: tastes that way too. That makes his neck warm, and Zack ducks under and out from their shared situation, because he's making it weird now.

But if that wasn't a world-rocking kiss... Zack doesn't know what could compete against it.

Straightening out his carefully curated spikes, Zack keeps in Cloud's bubble, as if the thought of being too apart is unconscionable, and that's just another way Zack is making it weird. He thinks a little too hard on how much strength he exhibited just then, how he cushioned his not really fall, or - he tries not to think about that part, because Cloud doesn't mind if he bonks his head against the drywall or not. That wasn't... it was... his heart somersaults, and Zack doesn't know what the hell he's done, but also doesn't go through it with a finetooth comb because he was just trying to get out of paperwork, dammit.

Successfully it would seem, given that their joined presence is the only one floating about this empty hall, no approaching stomps to ruin his bluster. Zack laughs a little too hard at that, doubling over with the force of it, cheeks hot from stolen air.

"It worked!" like that, he delivers a victory fist pump, pearly whites on full display! "Cloud, I can't thank you enough. I wanted to get to some more training done tonight instead of boring 'ole paperwork. They've been on my tail ever since yesterday, yeesh."

Zack doesn't account for why he didn't just do the paperwork yesterday, and besides, that's not important.

Folding his arms behind his neck, Zack looks at Cloud, looks up, looks at Cloud, looks up, a smirk emerging with each fleeting look.

"So. You got some of that SOLDIER strength after all. Nearly threw me through the wall, man. I'd hate to be your girlfriend..." Zack quirks a brow. "Unless you're both into that?"

God, what a lucky woman goes unsaid, because--wow. Has he ever been...? Like that...? Him? Not wanting to veer off into territory neither can come back from, because this was just a kiss, and he was just--making a show of it, performing. (He can feel the heat radiating from his neck, but chooses to ignore it.)

"I'm kidding. I'm glad you can toss me 'round, makes me feel like a proud teacher! All of our training's headed somewhere. Before you know it, you'll be in my place! I remember when I was in yours."

Something... about that. Something... the phrasing... the... Zack squeezes his eyes shut, rattles his head around a little. Weird. All of this is...

"Weird. I feel like..."

Zack shakes his head a final time.

Cloud startled a little when Zack began to laugh, momentarily concerned at how it sounded; almost a little unhinged. Still, Zack had always been kind of intense in the energy department, so Cloud relaxed when the other gave a victory fist bump, the action one he was more familiar with.

"Maybe you should have just done your paperwork yesterday, then," he replied, voice deadpan. Not that Cloud didn't hate paperwork himself, but still. If Zack had done that, then they never would have kissed and it would – well, they would have both been better off, wouldn't they? Or maybe Cloud was overthinking things again. Maybe Zack didn't care that they had kissed, maybe he had done this before with someone else. Zack was a popular guy, so maybe.

Gaia above, Cloud was tired of maybes.

Even so, sometimes Zack managed to absolutely baffle him. "What girlfriend?" He questioned, the confusion showing on his face. Cloud couldn't remember the last time he had been alone with a woman – especially since ShinRa didn't seem to recruit them for whatever reason. Not into SOLDIER, at least. The Turks were another matter.

He didn't get what Zack was trying to insinuate either – or rather, he did, but really wished that he didn't. Sure, some people probably found the SOLDIER strength hot – and Cloud could secretly admit that he liked watching Zack show off his strength, but that was neither here nor there... Ugh, he was getting off track.

It wasn't like Cloud didn't like women – he did. He had had a big crush on Tifa and Aerith had been... well, that had been entirely too complicated. Cloud hadn't really had the time to think about it. Yet it didn't change what he was currently feeling about Zack, so maybe he needed to reconsider his own sexuality. He had always admired Sephiroth when he was younger, before the guy went off the rails, so maybe he had just been in denial about it until now.

"I don't know if I want to be in your place. I don't want the paperwork," he offered, tone light – showing he didn't really mean it. Still, he hadn't joined up with ShinRa this time around to rise in the ranks; even if it would make some of his work a lot easier.

Brows furrowing, he took a small step closer to Zack. He didn't really like the way the other male was acting – there was something off about it. "Are you sure you're okay? You didn't actually hit your head, did you?" Cloud had tried to make sure he wouldn't, but he knew how SOLDIER strength could be – and he had long surpassed the normal enhancements.

"But yeah, I'm free. Maybe I need to beat you into the ground to prove a point." Especially since Zack had made it sound like Cloud wouldn't be able to do that. Of course, he technically shouldn't be capable of that just yet, given their differences in rank, but what was the point of doing it all again if he couldn't use it to his advantage at least once in a while?

Cloud was honestly glad for the conversation, as he felt a little calmer. He no longer wanted to hide in a corner somewhere and have an existential crisis. If they both acted like nothing weird had happened, then maybe Cloud could move on without making things awkward between them.

Noctis wasn't really sure what he considered old old but Barnabas wasn't grey yet so that was something. Then again, his dad had gone grey pretty early so it wasn't always a sign of age.

"I dunno. Half of my dad's council." He was sure Barnabas could make a guess as to the men he was talking about. They were the people who had been old when his father was Prince, so they were practically ancient now.

"Now that depends greatly on the guard." Noctis wouldn't deny that he had something of a reputation for ditching his guards, but he never ditched Gladio or Cor. He hadn't ditched Barnabas either, though technically the man wasn't there as a guard. "But I take your point."

Noctis perked up when they reached the diner. He really was hungry now.

"Not surprising. Kenny does kinda give off a murder vibe," he smirked, gesturing towards the large mural of the mascot. It was a shame that he wasn't there in person. They often had someone dress up as Kenny whenever there was a big event or promotion on and he'd have liked to see Barnabas's reaction.

Noctis chose a booth in the back of the restaurant because it was out of the way and allowed for some privacy. It also had the tactical advantage of having sight of the entrance, and nobody behind them. When the waitress came over he ordered a burger without the salad, fries and a soda.

Calling Barnabas insane wasn't far off, if he had to be honest. Barnabas knew he had always been a little... intense, in comparison to most other people. It was why he had done so well as an assassin. His ability to put his emotions to the wayside made the work easy for him. Combine that with his overall skills and he made for a dangerous enemy. Of course, Noctis said it like it was a compliment, but if Barnabas hadn't been loyal to the royal family... well, things would have looked very different then.

"Ah yes, your father is very protective, but it is understandable. Many things could go wrong and it is unlikely that you will need the poison resistance," especially since it wasn't Niflheim's style. Oh no, the Empire liked to brag, so something as subtle as poison wasn't their usual method. That chancellor or theirs might be a different type of beasts, but Barnabas was still observing on that front.

Following Noctis inside the establishment, he let out a small chuckle. "Hm, perhaps we ought to investigate him. See if a murderer is using the Kenny costume as a disguise to hide his crimes." Barnabas was jesting, something rare for him to do, but the mascot really did give odd uncanny energy. Perhaps it was part of the charm? However unlikely it was, but kids liked the strangest things these days.

Taking a seat in front of Noctis and silently appreciating the chosen location due to its tactical advantages, he decided to order the same as the prince – only with the added salad. He ordered both a soda and a water, wanting a backup in case he found the soda completely awful. He had promised he would try it out though and he intended on keeping his word.

"Intense," he replied after a moment, having taken a moment to look around the establishment. "There is a high chance that you will not like it, but you are not supposed to like the skills I teach you. Knowing how to do something does not mean that you must use the knowledge, but I do believe in being prepared for all situations." Noctis had already expressed that he didn't like knowing how to kill, but for someone who was such an obvious target – the skill was necessary in Barnabas' eyes.

"Outside of that I will allow for some flexibility. If you have something you wish to know, then there is a high chance that I can teach you."

A coeurl could be a threat, but not the kind Benedikta ought to bring to her king's notice. Even so, it was good to know that the felines were getting more active in the area; if they were migrating, then it was likely a sign that the blight was spreading into their usual territory and hunting grounds.

"I see – something to keep an eye on. A shame we can't retrieve the corpse for further study." Benedikta could fly down and retrieve it, but she wasn't going to bother with that. Someone else would have to do the legwork on that front if it was needed.

"Is that so?" Benedikta was a little miffed that her flirting wasn't working, but at the same time – Ashton did look like the type who wouldn't pick up on it. "It is true that not many come out this way – there is not much to see outside of the vegetation. I was sent here on behalf of Waloed to investigate suspicious activity in the area, but it seems I've already foudn the source," and said source was now dead, so. All in all, a job well done.

"If you're a traveling swordsman, that means you hold no particular allegiance towards any kingdom, am I correct?"

"I hope you're right. Nothing would make sense if Hojo doesn't pay for all the horrible things he did." Aerith hates this man so much, much more than anyone else. She's quite patient, most of the time. She always tries to be compassionate, to see how others could feel in a situation. But with Hojo she can't do that. He took way too much from her, and the more she sees him, the worse it gets.

She then listens to Cloud about the scar Sephiroth gave him, but her eyes are quickly full of concerns. It's not the first time such a thing happens with Cloud, and Aerith never knows how to react. She just doesn't understand what is going on, but she can tell that something is making Cloud feel uneasy, and without a warning.

Cloud didn't understand why it kept happening. Why was it like his mind wasn't completely his own? He hated the uncertainty, the knowledge that something was missing, but unable to understand what, how or why. It was much easier to just ignore it and it usually worked right up until it happened again. It was an endless cycle he just couldn't break out of.

"I, yes – I'm fine," he obviously wasn't, but he also didn't want to talk about it. He didn't even know how to talk about it. How could he explain what was happening in his head? Aerith would think he was insane. The visions, the voices, the green tinge... even he thought so, which was why he was trying to ignore it.

"Let's just – forget it. It doesn't matter," it hadn't been that important anyways. Knowing Sephiroth had given him that scar had to be enough for now, even if he had been ready to open up about more than that. "Did you want to do something?" Anything was welcome if it meant he would be distracted – and it didn't hurt that he'd get to spend some more time with Aerith, even if he'd never admit to it.

Aerith is no longer alive. Her presence is fleeting — pinpricks over skin, a glance just barely within Cloud's periphery, a feeling that's more like a memory. The simple truth is that she has been with him for every step that came after her end. She tries not to crowd him. He doesn't need a voice pulling him to a place he cannot follow, not yet, not when their world still needs a champion.

So, she gives him space. She watches but she doesn't reach for him. After all, she can only spare little moments, she is a whisper in so many places except for two. Dreamwalking, in which she visits for a gentle catch-up, where she's easily thrown out because a sleeping mind is unpredictable. And within the space between life and death, where she's strongest, and where her influence can reshape the world: the Lifestream.

When Cloud suddenly plunges into that vast inbetween, it isn't only his soul that Aerith reaches. In his future, The Lifestream bursts from the crust of the earth and claims him bodily. He is asleep for a journey that takes him against the flow of time.

He needs a purpose. He doesn't say it, but she knows. He still wants to live. Maybe this time... he can find true peace? Even if it means he will be forever changed. Even if he sacrifices part of himself, so that others can live out their story with a little more hope.

Aerith isn't a cruel guardian. She leaves the most obvious shout for him to find. I'M HERE. That golden bloom is unmistakable. Mustering what strength that remains, she delivers her last shout, one that arrives in the form of a ghostly whisper. "Go on." She encourages. Her footfalls leave no trail but she continues to follow him like a shadow.

Elsewhere, Aerith is very much alive. She is carrying out her normal routine — until there's a stir in her flowers. "Huh?" She tilts her head and tries to listen. Eyes wide she suddenly drops to her knees with her ear practically pressing into the soil. What began as a series of too many whispers to decipher threads into one united voice. Hundreds of tones weaving together like the Lifestream's currents. Find safety with the weapon. Usually, she visits the church later. She was going to help out at Fifth Cafe. Instead she finds herself running past with non-stop apologies spilling from her lips, and when she's no longer on the narrow streets she breaks into a full pelt sprint to reach the Church.

It was surprisingly easy to get into Midgar, but then again, the first time around Cloud hadn't had any problem with it either. The guards took one look at his frame; the fusion sword, the outfit, the mako-glowing eyes – and practically bowed before letting him in. Cloud didn't even have to show any ID – which was fortunate, because he was pretty sure he didn't have it on him. He hadn't needed anything of the sort for a long time, but he had to get used to a ShinRa-ruled world once more.

Still, looking like a SOLDIER obviously came with benefits. It would also come with a bucketload of trouble, but Cloud was going to focus on the benefits for now.

He beelined for the church and tried not to get distracted on the way there. Even so, seeing Midgar in its prime was... extremely odd to him; after Meteor and the whole situation with the remnants. Midgar was kind of ugly, now that he took the time to think about it, but he was not sure what else he had expected from a place so void of natural life.

He couldn't wait to get started. First Jenova and then he'd focus on the reactors. Maybe he should take out the President, leave the company scrambling as they tried to deal with the situation... but Jenova came first. With her gone, he shouldn't have to worry about Sephiroth; at least not a Sephiroth influenced by his dear 'mother'.

Cloud had missed having a purpose like this. Yet, he wanted to visit the church first. Lately, it had become the place where he felt the most at home. It wouldn't be the same, but he wanted to check in on Aerith – make sure she looked safe before continuing on. He had no intentions on actually making contact with her, it'd probably be safer if he didn't, but he selfishly wanted to see her.

It doesn't take long to reach the church. People stare, but Cloud was used to it. The closer he got to the church, the more the crowd thinned out, which he was thankful for. He didn't actually expect anyone to be present, so when he opened the doors to the church, he was extremely surprised to see Aerith there; kneeling amongst the flowers.

Cloud was caught entirely by surprise and found himself unable to move before the closing church doors announced his presence. Wincing slightly at the noise, he inwardly cursed at his own luck. Well, shit. That wasn't the plan, but at least Aerith looked alive and healthy, if not a little out of breath.

He hesitantly walked forward, not wanting to scare her, but also didn't want to look weird by just standing there and staring. "... Hi," he offered, voice surprisingly soft. He glanced at the flowers, a little surprised when they seemed to almost rustle at him in greeting.

"Er..." Right, what did one say to that? "I'm Cloud. Strife. I didn't think anyone would be here." Ugh – Cloud was so glad to know that he hadn't gotten any less awkward over the years. Why had he thought this was a good idea again?

"It may not truly be rid of you for good, but it would take care of the present problem."

Of being pinned down by him, at his mercy. Joshua did not want to prime, or even semi-prime. Whereas Barnabas seemed utterly immune to the curse, the Rosfield seemed barely hanging on a thread half the time. It frustrated him that he knew so much and yet so little.

Sleipnir is one such mystery. Discovering he was an Egi was no easy feat and that was about the extent of Joshua's knowledge. He hated that he wanted to know more: how did Barnabas create something so complex? Just where did Odin's will end and Sleipnir's own begin?

He struggled harsher against, then forced to settle because he really did not want to wind himself by his own actions. If only Clive were here.

"Perhaps, but it would only delay the inevitable," Sleipnir replied, but even so, he decided to remove his hold on the other male. Sleipnir was deceptively strong, which was why Joshua had not had much success with his struggling. Smiling sweetly, he finally got off of the Dominant of Fire, dusting himself off afterwards.

The Phoenix was annoyingly fascinating. Amongst Dominants, one might consider him the weakest due to his health and yet he had survived an unsurvivable event. He had even managed to hide his survival for so very long, hiding in the shadows and going against his very nature as the Dominant of Fire.

"I might be," he admitted, head tilting as he observed the other male. In truth, the little Phoenix might be the biggest threat his liege had to face – for more than one reason.

"You are, in truth, the first to discover my true nature," he added after a moment, the fascination clear in his voice. "I have existed since his majesty first awakened as Odin. I have never been in doubt about my purpose or nature – and yet I find myself... changing." It was, perhaps, a risky thing to admit, but Sleipnir found himself willing to take that risk. The Phoenix might have insight even his master did not.

"What does it mean to be human? Do you know, little Phoenix?"

He straightened up a little bit more when Barnabas brought up alternative energy sources. A topic that Reeve had been playing around with off and on for a year or so now. Research into the matter took time after all, and he was still considering implications from all angles. "Of course. As you know this is something that has been at the forefront of my mind for a while now. Seeing that mako isn't going to be an ever replenishing source -- it's finite. The president doesn't seem to see this but, anyone who works closely with the reactors -- the science behind them -- knows this acutely. Rerouting the flow of Mako to specific reactors when one pool for example starts to deplete is a massive undertaking."

Barnabas knew Reeve had been the right person to approach with this topic. The man seemed like a doormat, but anyone who dismissed him as such was a fool. Reeve worked best behind the scenes and the man had plenty of ideas, even if ShinRa did not invest in them. Still, if the engineer needed money, then it was fortunate that he had an acquaintance that had plenty of it.

"You describe it well. I do believe the president does see it, but simply does not consider it to be a problem. Why, with him being convinced there is a 'Promised Land' somewhere out there for him to find... it would solve all of his problems. Nothing else seems to matter to him, these days," which was frustrating – but no matter. Barnabas would make his own plans, to ensure that he and his would thrive when everything else burned down around him.

"Even so, I would like to hear of your ideas. If it seems promising, then I might like to invest. I can create my own company to set production into work, should it be needed. Considering what is happening at ShinRa, having a backup plan or two seems wise – don't you agree?"

Noctis was relying heavily on the car's navigation system and his father's directions. He's spent very little time outside the Citadel walls. Unfortunate, but necessary with the war going on. He certainly hadn't driven outside of the city before. It was relatively easy going though. The traffic was nowhere near as bad as it was inside the city. He just needed to pay more attention because he didn't know the roads.

"Can't say I blame 'em." Noctis replied with a small smile. The idea of traipsing around a sewer wasn't exactly thrilling. The legend would have tempted Noctis though, even if he would have to spend a ridiculous amount of time in the shower to get rid of the smell afterwards. "I'm kind of surprised that Cor wasn't game though. I'd have thought he'd be all in if there was a chance of facing off against some legendary monster."

Noctis had heard enough stories from his father to know that Cor had been something of an adrenaline junkie when he was younger. He'd thought that some of the tales were exaggerated until he'd asked the Marshal himself and he'd looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

"I'm good. It's not all that different." Of course, with the Star being state of the art it was more luxurious and had more advanced features, but it handled the same. He'd be lying if he said he didn't miss some of the comfort features of the Star though. He supposed that was a fair price to pay to go under the radar though.

Noctis saw the sign for Hammerhead coming up ahead and made a left turn as instructed since it looked like they were good for gas. He was enjoying the drive. He kept his eyes on the road, but he was listening to everything his father was saying. It was nice.

Regis laughed at Noctis' accurate description about Cor, unable to help himself. "You are not wrong. In truth, he did want to join me at first. It was Clarus who convinced him otherwise. Apparently, it would not have been wise for the prince and his retinue to venture below ground only to end up being turned to stone. Nobody would have known where we were, so chance of rescue was small. Too risky, he said. I did not agree with him back then, but Cor was convinced and we ended up leaving it alone," he explained, voice fond. He really had quite the adventure with those two – four, if one counted Cid and Weskham, but Cor and Clarus were the ones who had always been there.

Cor had been more ready than most for adventure, but after the whole ordeal with Gilgamesh he had mellowed out some. It was for the better, probably, as the Marshal had otherwise encouraged some of Regis' own wilder and more reckless tendencies.

Looking at Hammerhead as they passed, Regis' expression turned melancholy for just a moment, though his son's question snapped him out of it. "You are doing most excellent, son. I feel quite comfortable with you in the driver's seat," and that was no exaggeration. Noctis looked like he was enjoying himself as well, which made the king happy.

"We will soon pass by Longwythe Peak," Regis spoke up after a moment, the flat landscape making the crag easy to spot. "It is one of Eos' great mysteries, as no geologist has been able to figure out how it came to be. Why, it's as if the mountain simply settled down in that spot one day and never decided to move again. It does not erode, no matter what they do to it. It is quite fascinating." Regis enjoyed offering Noctis these tidbits of knowledge, as his son had never been out this way before. At least not at an age where he could remember it.

"Of course now it is a popular tourist spot – and yet the mystery behind it remains." It fascinated Regis, as it was proof that there was so much they still did not know about the world they inhabited. Mysteries hid around every corner, but he was too old now to explore. He just hoped his son would get the chance to experience more of the world before he had to attend to his duty.

Cloud propped his elbow onto the table and rested his chin on his hand, offering a small shrug of his shoulder. "I guess. Maybe eating dirt will make him mellow out – or give him permanent brain damage," he replied, idly watching the people around them. He wasn't good with crowds, but the place was thankfully not too busy.

"Then again, maybe it wouldn't change much," not that Cloud thought that the guy was actually stupid. Brutish, yes, but the guy knew war, at the very least. He just didn't care about human lives and seemed to like the power he held a little too much.