#((...kevin))

The world seemed to constrict to a single, unfocused point for a fraction of a second, Safay remaining perfectly still and remarkably stiff at the touch and the words before they sank in.  He snorted quietly at the realization, muscles relaxing marginally.  “Of course, Sir.”  Half honest response and half clear tease.

There wasn’t a single possibility that he couldn’t have recognized the voice; and that reason alone was exactly why he’d gone so very still.  Eyes widened slightly behind the blindfold, breath slow and shallow.

Sephiroth wanted to deny it.  Funny how that was his first reaction; not to argue, but to vehemently deny, maybe even to pretend that he hadn’t heard at all.

His senses had been dulled since he’d–  Died.  Died, gotten himself torn from the Lifestream and returned.  And still it wasn’t a comfortable thought.  Wearing a blindfold, his sense of hearing and reflexes nowhere near as impressive as they once were, he knew Zack could strike.  Kill him, righteously, and there was little he could do.  He also knew that Zack could do far worse things than merely kill him.  Maybe he had with that whisper; it didn’t seem to be a merciful confession.

Swallowing thickly, it took another few seconds for him to find his voice.  To be confident that he could speak, let alone that the words themselves might sound steady.  “Safe to say… the feeling is mutual.”