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The countryside was bathed in bright noon light as the sun hung high in the sky. Saphira and Sephiroth walked side by side to the Chocobo stables east of Midgar. Saphira gave her complaints about the heat, but she much preferred this tranquility to the grunge and strife of Shinra.
As they approached the farm and saw the tall golden birds, Saphira beamed and trotted ahead of her companion. Excited to see her own Chocobo at the stables. Sephiroth followed at his pace behind her.
“Thank you for joining me, by the way,” Saphira said, voice soft and brimmed with appreciation.
Sephiroth met her warm gaze and a rare, gentle smile played at the corners of his lips. “I wanted to be with you,” he replied simply.
A delightful chirp greeted them as they reached the fence. A beautiful mint green Chocobo with sleek feathers trotted over to them, shaking itself out and lowering it’s head past the fence. Saphira took its cheeks in her hands and ruffled its feathers. Their reunion was joyful and sweet, making little coos and squeaks at each other in a playful display.
“Hey there, Mentha!” Saphira crowed, running her hands through the Chocobo’s feathers. “I missed you so much, birdie!”
Sephiroth stood back, watching them with amusement. Seeing Saphira so happy and carefree brought a softness to his expression. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and he found himself captivated by the genuine affection she showed for her Chocobo. He leaned on the fence beside her, arms folded.
“Mentha is beautiful,” he remarked. Mentha chirped at him in response.
Saphira nodded, brushing through the feathers on the bird’s neck. “Isn’t she? She’s been with me for a long time. I raised her myself.” Mentha nuzzled Saphira affectionately, making her giggle and scratch under the bird’s chin. “I wish I could visit her more often, but Shinra has been keeping us real busy…”
Sephiroth nodded. That was for sure. “I didn’t know you had an interest in Chocobos,” he said.
“Yeah, well… I’m not exactly very open at work…” she muttered. She had her reasons for keeping a lot of secrets around Shinra, but Sephiroth was one of the few people she trusted enough to let into her private life. She tried to change the topic, shaking off the discomfort. “Sometimes I think she can understand me. And then she chooses not to so she can tease me,” Saphira said, smiling up at Mentha as she stretched.
He chuckled softly, a rare sound that made Saphira’s heart flutter. “She seems very intelligent,” he agreed, reaching out to gently stroke Mentha’s neck. The Chocobo chirped in approval, leaning into his touch.
It was a nice moment, finally disconnected from the missions and their responsibilities. No reactors, no monsters. Just a pair at the stable paying attention to a sweet mint colored bird. Sephiroth rested against the fence as Saphira brushed Mentha, gushing about her and all the adventures they had together before she joined SOLDIER. He listened intently, watching her with a content fondness he didn’t often share.
He enjoyed this calm. The stories were cute and they offered him a deeper look at Saphira’s life. She kept it wrapped up so tight that learning anything felt like uncovering a treasure. And it all deepened the care he felt for her.
“You really care about her,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet admiration.
Saphira blushed a little and set the brush aside, Mentha nudging her shoulder to turn her around. “I do,” she replied, turning to him with a smile. “I care about you too, you know.”
He laughed softly and shook his head. “I know.”
“Thanks for coming here with me. It’s nice to spend time with you. And to introduce you to Mentha finally,” she gestured to Mentha as she mentioned her, the Chocobo crowing at the motion.
Sephiroth’s expression grew tender, and he reached out to take her hand. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” he hummed. He took her hand, stepping close to her and wrapping the other around her waist. The sun dipped behind the barn, noon turning into evening, a dimming golden light bathing the Chocobo Farm.
“I love learning more about you,” Sephiroth said, voice softened into a low whisper. She giggled quietly, looking aside as more blush dusted her cheeks. She was easy to embarrass, and it made her look so cute.
Saphira pushed some hair behind her ear. “It’s nice. I… I’m glad I have someone to let in.”