Zack had nodded to Genesis, he’d watch over them, at least until he had classes tomorrow, but in between them and afterwards he’d be back. He knew that Angeal would never forgive him for skipping class even to take care of him.

 

He chuckled at finding the fort, “Hey Xeria, is that a private fort or can I join you? Is there a password?”

 

When he was younger he’d made such forts in his own home, sometimes his parents would help him, but generally he’d made them to hide from them. He was lucky that it hadn’t angered them, it wasn’t like his makeshift forts weren’t all that hard to destroy. He knew Xeria was currently in a new place, around people she’d only officially met the day before, and with her getting her first injection… it was understandable if she simply wanted to hide.

 

One of the blankets moves aside just enough for her amber eye to be visible. “Light. Off. It hurts,” she says in a voice that's very different from her usual one. It sounds tense and anxious and dangerous, like a cornered animal.

 

Her reason for the light is because it's started giving her a headache on the way back to the apartment and has not reached almost unbearable levels. It hurts her eyes and makes her headache like someone's pounding on it with a hammer.

 

She moves the blanket back in place after she speaks, blocking the light out again. She does leave it open a crack, signaling that once the light is off he can join her.

 

Zack grins, “Sure thing.” He walks throughout the rooms turning off all the lights, with the exception of Angeal’s room, he decided when he left that room earlier that he’d leave the guy alone for a while. Once all the lights are off he carefully moves back to where movement had been in the fort and lays down. Moving forward only a small amount so that he can stick his head inside he waits for his glowing eyes to adjust to the new darkness before looking around for Xeria. He didn’t want to spook her after all, “You want any painkiller or anything. 'Geal’s got some stuff that’s okay to take with our Mako enhanced bodies.”

 

Xeria is curled up with an extra blanket in the far corner of the fort. Her hair has come free from her ponytail and is hanging all around her and in her face. Her expression is almost feral in the way she looks at him. The Mako in her system is already starting to make her eyes glow though it’s not as bright as Zack’s eyes are and due to her having two different colored eyes the glow in them is different. At his question she shakes her head. “No, I want dark…...stay please…...I don’t want to be alone.”

 

Zack nods his head and army crawls the rest of the way into the fort, “You feel sick or anything? Or just light sensitive?”

 

In the distance they could hear as Angeal finally stopped punching his pillows and picked up his tea. Then it was set back down and there was a loud thwump sound and a long deep sigh.

 

“Well, it seems his aggression is out. He might join us in a while if that’s the case.” Zack noted with a smile in Xeria’s direction.

 

Xeria shakes his head. “Don’t like the light. It hurts. Want it to stay dark and quiet.” She tenses at the sound of Angeal moving around. Its as if her entire body is on high alert. It’s almost like she’s expecting to be attacked by someone.

 

“Stay with me Zack. Don’t want to be alone. Tell me a story.” She asks him.

 

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere Xer. ...er Xeria, sorry.” Zack ducked his head embarrassed, he hadn’t meant to shorten her name like that! He hoped she wouldn’t get mad about it. “A story huh?”

 

He rolled over onto his back resting his head close to her knees as he thinks, “Once upon a time there was a giant wolf. He was always lonely because all of the other wolves were afraid of him due to his size and his unnaturally blue eyes in a pack where they were mostly brown. His thick fur was jet black and his ruff was elegant. He was a noble sort of wolf, always trying his best to look out for the pack even though his own pack mates were afraid of him.”

 

“One day a wounded wolf from another pack limped onto their land, but instead of killing the poor creature this outcast wolf asked him how he had come to be so injured.

 

‘I am an outcast from my pack, my blue eyes and red fur scare them, so they tried their best to kill me off.’

 

The giant wolf could feel nothing but sympathy for this red furred wolf, ‘You can roam with me if you’d like. I’m an outcast in my own pack, but they’ve never tried to harm me.’”

 

Zack looked over at Xeria’s slowly brightening eyes, he was making it up as he went, but he hoped she would enjoy it. ...and he hoped Angeal wouldn’t kill him for it if he heard it, praying the man wouldn’t tell Genesis or Sephiroth about it later.

 

“So this red wolf joined the black wolf’s pack without so much as a grumble from the rest of his pack mates. They felt it was better for him to have someone, afraid of him killing them as they were, they didn’t want to make him angry. Eventually the big black wolf learned that his pack was afraid he would hurt them, shocked to his gentle core he turned to his new friend and asked him if he wanted to stay with this pack. The red wolf told him that he would go wherever the black wolf chose to go. And so they left.”

 

“In their wanderings they found a lone silver wolf out hunting one day, they asked him why he was alone. Turns out he was an outcast too. He was huge, even bigger than the black wolf, and with his silver fur and green eyes it was easy to see how he had been branded an outcast as well. But the silver wolf’s father did not allow the fear of the rest of the pack to drive his son away, he used it to control his son instead. Making him hunt game for the pack by himself and other such things.”

 

“They went back with the silver wolf to his pack and were accepted provided they stayed away from the rest of the pack and did the same things the silver wolf had to do. Simply wanting somewhere to belong they agreed. Eventually another black wolf with blue eyes joined their group, having recently set out from his own pack to attempt to start one of his own. They weren’t really sure how they got stuck with the pup but he was fun to be around so they settled back into their routine with him.”

 

“But the young black wolf was a restless being and couldn’t stay confined to such a boring routine for long. He convinced his new pack mates to take off with him. It wasn’t all that hard to do, even for the huge honorable black. So they formed their own pack. An unusual one of all males, but soon the outcasts from the other packs trickled into join them, both male and female and soon they were the strongest pack around. But they didn’t bully the others or try to get back at them for branding them as outcasts. They simply ran through the hills and woods freely and happily being a family.”

 

He ended it a bit lamely, but he couldn’t think of what else to say.

 

Xeria listens intently to his story, hanging onto every word. Hearing how the wolves were treated made her sad but the fact that they found happiness and camaraderie with each other made her feel better.

 

“Thank you, Zack. I really liked your story. And…I don’t mind…I like the nickname.” She tells him. Outside the fort they can hear footsteps leaving Angeal’s room.

 

Zack grinned at her, “Glad you liked it.” He blushed a bit when she said she liked the nickname but then listened as Angeal left his room, seeing the remaining light in the house go dark as he flipped the switch for his room off. He giggled to himself, “Here comes the big black wolf.”

 

Angeal rolled his eyes at the comment as he moved through his living room to the kitchen to put his tea cup away. Then he moved back to what he assumed was the entrance to the fort and sat down cross legged before it. “So, what are you pups up to?”

 

He was much calmer now that he had conquered the urge to smash Heidegger’s face in, imagining his pillows as the man’s face had been very therapeutic. He’d heard all of Zack’s story and had to grin at the imagery, they were a lot like their own pack.

 

Xeria reaches over to open the entrance enough to peek out at Angeal. “The light hurts. Zack kept me company. He told me a story. You can come in too if you want.” She says.

 

She seems to be significantly calmer than when they first arrived at the apartment. “Why don’t you tell a story now? I can tell one next.” She offers.

 

She feels safe her in her fort with them. Knowing they’re here and they’re friends helps her stay calm and not be so paranoid that someone's going to come and try to hurt her. She knows that they would protect her and support her.

 

Angeal grinned at her, “So I heard.” He peaks his head in under the blankets as well, noting that the temperature with just the two Mako infused bodies is a bit stifling, so he only brings his torso inside the fort, and like Zack, lays down on his back. “What kind of story would you like to hear?”

 

Xeria shrugs, “Whatever kind of story you want to tell. I’m not picky. Nothing too scary though please.” She tells him. She’s not sure if she’d be able to handle a scary story in her current paranoid state.

 

“Not a scary one then.” Angeal settles down bringing his arms up to rest under his head. “There was a great Banora tree that stood in the middle of a field of wild grasses. This tree never bore fruit, just stood tall and majestic as it reached for the sky from its lonely position. Many generations of Banorans gave thanks to the Goddess Minerva for the bounty of the year in that field. They would dress the tree in streamers and ribbons, thanking the first tree from which they had cultivated their orchards from for its proud roots.”

 

The glow of Zack’s rolling eyes could be seen clearly in the darkness and Angeal smacked his bouncing leg, “Hush Pup.”

 

Zack pouted and closed his eyes, starting to cycle his legs to burn off some of his restlessness.

 

“One day a young heartbroken woman wandered out to the tree and sat down against its gnarled bark. She had just discovered that she was unable to bear children and her husband was most displeased. She cried for hours before the warm breeze of the field calmed her. She fell asleep among the grasses at the foot of the old Banora tree. When she woke there were two apples hanging from a low branch above her head. The first fruit anyone had ever seen the tree bear. A musical voice on the wind told the young woman to pick them, mesmerized, she did. The first Banora White became a fiery haired baby boy as she plucked it from the tree, the second turned into a baby boy with tufts of black hair upon his head.”

 

Angeal took a moment to swallow and readjust his position to better see Xeria’s face, “The young woman took the baby boys home with her and asked her husband if they could raise them. The man being an angry overbearing sort scoffed at her, telling her that he only wanted one child. He plucked the black haired boy from her arms and told her to get rid of the other. Saddened by his response, but glad he allowed them to keep at least one of the Banora tree’s children she went to the village head-woman to find a home for the other.”

 

“Unknown to the rest of the village, the head-woman could not bear children either. So she and her husband kept the other child, only the young woman ever knew that the two boys were in fact true brothers and sons of their Great Banora Tree. The two boys grew up as close friends, always different in an unexplainable way from the rest of the village children. One day a voice called the now young men to the lone tree in the field and it told them of their true heritage. Shocked to their core the young men decided to leave the village that had lied to them all their lives. They told no one they were leaving and set out from the tree that very moment.”

 

Angeal sighed quietly, “They traveled far and wide, gaining knowledge and strength. One day they heard the voice again, like music on the wind, it guided them to a cave under a waterfall. In the center of the cave stood a crystal tall and proud, just like their birth tree. As they watched a small chunk fell from the tip of the crystal clinking to the stone floor. The redheaded man stooped to pick it up and it turned into a man as he touched it. Long silver hair covering his body. The musical voice seemed to boom through the cave, “Watch over him.” It said, and so the two men became three as they continued to travel the world.”

 

By this time Zack had stopped his fidgeting and was curled up on his side facing them sound asleep. “The men went from place to place saving people from certain doom, listening to the voice that they knew in their blood was the planet that had given them life. They fought as it directed, always looking out for each other. Waiting for the day when the planet would tell them why they had been created.”

 

Xeria listens enraptured by Angeal’s story. Once he finishes she notices Zack has fallen asleep and smiles, brushing some hair out of the sleeping man’s face. She then turned back to Angeal and smiles at him. “Thank you Angeal. That story was amazing.” She then yawns loudly. She’s grown sleepy listening to their stories.

 

Angeal smiled up at her, “You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Would you like to sleep here? Or find an actual bed? I can go grab you a pillow if you’d like.”

 

Xeria shakes her head holding up a pillow that she’d brought into the fort up. “Thank you though. Thank you for the story too. You and Zack help me feel safe.” She says as she starts drifting off to sleep.

 

She stays in the fort all the next day too, still being sensitive to the light. She’s inside it when there’s a knock at the door which is Sephiroth who has just returned from his mission.

 

Angeal had nodded his head and fallen asleep where he was soon after she did. But the alarm from his room woke him the next morning and he sent Zack off to his classes. He made himself and Xeria breakfast, eating it with her in the fort before he did up all of the dishes. He was in the process of making lunch when the knock came. He answered the door with a grouchy look that brightened upon seeing Sephiroth, “Hey Seph! Come on in.”

 

“Thank you.” Sephiroth walked into the apartment and instantly noticed the fort, “Um, Angeal... isn’t Zack in class right now?”

 

Angeal chuckled, “Yes, the puppy is out. We’ve a new kitten who is just as sensitive to light as you.” He patted Sephiroth on the back at his quizzical look and turned to face the fort after closing his door. “Xeria, do you mind if me and Sephiroth come in?”

 

Xeria is curious at the sound of the knock and a new voice entering the apartment. She opens the entrance enough to peek out her eyes covered by a pair of sunglasses Zack had lent her before he’d left for class so she could look at things outside the fort if she had to.

 

At Angeal’s request for entry she nods and replies, “you can come in.” She leaves the blanket pulled aside a bit so they enter at the right place and scoots to the back of the fort so there's room for them to enter.

 

Angeal gestures for Sephiroth to proceed him and the curious 1st crawls into the fort, interested to meet this young woman who was in his best friend’s home.

 

Angeal crawled in after him to make the introductions, making sure to pull the blankets closed behind him. Once settled inside he found Xeria clear to the back again, “Xeria Free, this is General Sephiroth, Seph, this is Xeria. She’s Gen’s new student.”

 

Sephiroth’s eyes widened, “Gen took on a student?” He turned to face Xeria a calculating look on his face, “You must be something of a wonder Miss Free. It’s an honor to meet you.” He reached out a hand for her to shake, he’d have to get the details from Genesis later. Though, actually, “Why is she here instead of with Gen?”

 

Angeal rolled his eyes, “Because he got sent on a mission and she just got her first injection yesterday.”

 

Sephiroth nods in understanding. “I see. Increased sensitivity to light I suppose. I had the same thing though my methods for dealing with it were quite…different.”

 

Xeria shakes his offered hand and is able to manage a small shy smile. She had never imagined she’d be meeting one of the three men she admired most of her young adult life like this. It’s quite embarrassing.

 

“The honor is all mine. I’ve looked up to you and the other Generals for a long time. I’m really lucky to have gotten to meet you.”

 

Sephiroth smiled at her and gracefully moved until he was sitting cross-legged. “So, how do you like Genesis so far?”

 

Angeal felt a moment of shame, that would have been one of his first questions upon getting her alone if he wasn’t so hyped up on his own shot. But because of the heightened Mako running through him, it only lasted a moment. He turned his blue eyes to her and awaited her answer. “He can be quite a pain to get to know.”

 

“Actually, I really like Genesis. He’s a bit of a drama queen but we get along fairly well. He’s even let me borrow a copy of loveless to read when I asked him what he was always quoting. He’s kind but strict with training. He’s really helping me learn how to use Materia and beef up my Mana reserves.” She explains with a smile.

 

Both of them smiled at her, “That’s good. He must really like you, I’m sure you’ve heard that he fireballs most Cadets?” Sephiroth chuckled.

 

Angeal nodded his head, “That he does, but I’m glad he’s taking teaching you so seriously. I won’t have to give him a lecture then.” He winked at her.

 

Xeria laughs at him mentioning lecturing Genesis. Somehow she can picture it perfectly in her mind. At Sephiroth’s question she nods. “Yeah, it was one of the first things the older cadets told the new recruits when we join. Luckily, I made third class right before He took me under his wing so I’m in the clear,” She jokes.