Chapter Text 正文
As the sun beat down on them, climbing higher as the day progressed, dark eyes glinted at them from the shadow cast by the wide brim of a cowboy hat. There was no coin toss or trickery this time, and Sam merely thanked them for bringing back his chocobos, giving them a lifetime pass for his delivery. Behind him the large, yellow birds in the stable seemed to wark in enthusiastic agreement.
烈日灼烧着大地，随着日头逐渐升高，一顶宽檐牛仔帽投下的阴影中，有双幽暗的眼眸正闪烁着打量他们。这次既没有抛硬币的把戏也没有诡计，山姆只是感谢他们帮忙找回了陆行鸟，赠予了永久有效的运输通行证。他身后马厩里那些明黄色的巨鸟发出欢快的鸣叫，仿佛在热烈附和。
After coming out of the collapsed expressway, they had run into Wymer who told them about the rumors of a secret Shinra lab being true, but the watchmen weren’t able to do anything about it as they were busy looking for survivors in the collapsed buildings and helping wherever they could after the chaos. As such, Cloud and the others had returned to the underground facility they had been in just last night, but they had only encountered small monsters and escaped experiments, nothing more dangerous than that.
走出坍塌的高速公路后，他们遇见了怀默。对方证实了秘密神罗实验室的传闻属实，但守望者们因忙于在废墟中搜救幸存者、维持灾后秩序而无暇处理。于是克劳德一行人重返昨夜刚造访过的地下设施，却只遭遇了些小型怪物与逃脱的实验体，并未发现更危险的踪迹。
Sam looked at Sephiroth for a long moment, his bearded face serious and grim. “You are the one responsible for the massacre in Don Corneo’s mansion, right?”
山姆久久凝视着萨菲罗斯，蓄着络腮胡的面容肃穆凝重。"唐·柯里尼奥宅邸的屠杀案，是你所为吧？"
Cloud tensed up and shifted to stand more directly in front of Sephiroth. He could still see the way Sephiroth’s eyes glowed faintly through the fabric, the man neither confirming nor denying anything as he smiled.
克劳德绷紧身体，挪动脚步挡在了萨菲罗斯的正前方。他仍能透过布料窥见那人眼底微弱的磷光，而对方只是不置可否地微笑着。
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cloud said for him, an undercurrent of threat in his tone. His hand itched for the hilt of his sword.
「不知道你在说什么。」克劳德替他说道，话音里暗含威胁。他的手已经按捺不住地摸向剑柄。
The corner of Sam’s mouth merely ticked up. He still wasn’t looking at Cloud. “There sure are a lot of angels poppin’ up lately, and I don’t believe in coincidences.”
萨姆的嘴角只是微微一抽。他依然没有看向克劳德。"最近冒出来的天使可真不少，而我不相信什么巧合。"
Cloud crossed his arms. “Another piece of advice for surviving in Wall Market?” 重试 错误原因
“It’s kept my head on my neck so far.” 重试 错误原因
“Not if you continue sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” Cloud cocked his head, eyes sharp. “So what if he’s the one who did it? What are you going to do about it?”
“除非你继续多管闲事。”克劳德偏了偏头，目光凌厉，“就算是他干的又怎样？你能拿他怎么样？”
Sam chuckled. “Nothing. But Corneo’s men have been turning Wall Market upside down, looking for Avalanche and a man with long silver hair and green, cat-slitted eyes… You might want to choose a better disguise next time. Just sayin’.” 重试 错误原因
Cloud listened to this in grim silence and nodded, recognizing it for the valuable information it was. “Thanks.” 重试 错误原因
“No problem. Without you, who knows what might have happened to my sweet babies?” Sam finally tore his eyes away from Sephiroth to turn to Cloud, a nervous edge to his smile. “You sure keep dangerous friends, don’t you, champ?” 重试 错误原因
“Not a friend,” Cloud automatically said. 重试 错误原因
Curiosity gleamed in Sam’s eyes. “What then?” 重试 错误原因
Cloud didn’t know how to respond to that. He thought of the previous night when Sephiroth had asked him if they were lovers. Cloud didn’t know the answer to that question either, but whatever they were, he wasn’t exactly in the habit of sharing his private life with just anyone, so he settled on—“None of your business.” 重试 错误原因
Sam raised his hands as Cloud glowered at him. “Alright, bud. Have it your way. Just be careful out there, alright?” 重试 错误原因
Cloud continued to glare at him even as Sam smiled back in that bland, friendly way of his. There was a knowing look in his eyes, and somehow Cloud had a feeling that he had revealed much more with his response than he wanted… He shook his head. 重试 错误原因
Nothing was ever simple in Wall Market. 重试 错误原因
He ignored the heavy weight of Sephiroth’s intense gaze on his skin as they set out for Don Corneo’s mansion. 重试 错误原因
This time there were no bodies, no blood. Somehow Cloud doubted Corneo would have had the time to clear all the corpses away and replace all the furniture, the carpets, and even the wooden boards of the bridge with exact copies, not with Shinra breathing down his neck and even sending its hounds after him.
这次没有尸体，没有血迹。云片暗自寻思，科尼欧应该来不及将尸体尽数运走，更遑论把地毯、桥梁木板乃至所有家具都替换成完全一致的复制品——毕竟神罗正对其穷追不舍，甚至派出了爪牙部队。
They stood in the pristine yet eerily empty lobby, an emerald dragon with golden whiskers coiled on the octagonal carpet underneath their feet, but even with Cloud’s enhanced sense of smell, he was only able to catch faint traces of the blood that had been there before, crusted into the floors and the walls in thick layers. The strong chemicals that had been used were just minimally easier to make out. It was all skillfully masked by the heavy perfume overlaying everything, that heady and headache-inducing mix of strong Wutaian spices and flowers that could be found in all of Corneo’s establishments.
他们站在洁净却诡谲空荡的大厅里，脚下八角形地毯上盘踞着金须翡翠龙纹。纵使云片拥有强化过的嗅觉，也只能勉强捕捉到先前渗入地板与墙壁的厚重血垢残留的微弱气息。用于清洁的烈性化学药剂痕迹倒是稍容易辨别些。但这一切都被覆盖全场的浓烈香水精妙掩盖了，那是科尼欧旗下所有风月场所特有的、令人头晕目眩的刺鼻混合物，糅杂了五台香料与异域花卉的馥郁。
Any other person may not notice the difference at all.
换作旁人，或许根本察觉不出丝毫异样。
It was clear the Turks had a hand in this. They had been here for more than just Corneo and his assets. This was another cover-up, and it appeared that Shinra was still cleaning up its beloved general’s messes even after he had gone rogue. 重试 错误原因
Wall Market was different in the day, almost unrecognizable without those dazzling lights or that bustling nightlife, and Cloud could almost see how what Sam had said was true in the fearful faces of the residents, all trying to keep their heads down as Corneo’s goons and Shinra turned the town upside down while their regent himself seemed to have vanished into thin air. The colorful flags seemed dull, gray, as they fluttered lifelessly in the wind, the lanterns reduced to just empty paper husks that hung from lines like bodies. 重试 错误原因
The clean and restored mansion was much like that, perfect on the surface, as though nothing had ever happened here. But an eerie silence reigned here just as it had right after the massacre, blood and corpses strewn everywhere; little signs and incongruences here and there tipping the viewer off to the fact that not all was as it seemed. 重试 错误原因
“Been hearing everyone talking about a massacre all the way up here.” Barret frowned as he looked around. “Where are the bodies?” 重试 错误原因
“Shinra,” Cloud said, simply.
“神罗。”克劳德简短地说道。
Barret frowned harder. “Why would they do that? Why play clean-up for Corneo? Thought they were hunting him down...” 重试 错误原因
“They are not doing it for Corneo, but for Sephiroth,” Tifa answered this time. “He was the one who killed most of Corneo’s men here, and Shinra is covering up for him.” Her mouth twisted, eyes flashing as she clearly remembered Nibelheim. “They still want him back.” 重试 错误原因
It seemed like she had arrived at the same conclusion as Cloud, and he nodded in agreement. “They probably also want to keep his return a secret for as long as possible.” 重试 错误原因
Barret snorted. “Well, good luck with that.” 重试 错误原因
He did have a point. Cloud glanced at Sephiroth who had remained silent throughout their conversation, seeming not to care at all about the fact that they were talking about him. Neither did he make any indication as to what he thought of Shinra cleaning up after him—he was probably already used to it. After all, he had been Shinra’s prized general. The company had probably let him get away with a lot of things, far more than Cloud probably even knew about. 重试 错误原因
They went up the staircase on the right that led up to the balcony, heading straight for the second door they knew would lead to Corneo’s bedroom. They walked through the foyer and the second gate into the lobby. Cloud had just set a foot down on the carpet that displayed twin emerald dragons when he sensed movement from behind the corner. His Buster Sword was already swinging, his muscle memory and instincts from being in SOLDIER for years taking over. His blade found the neck of the other person, nearly decapitating them, while he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. 重试 错误原因
He peered up to see it was Leslie. 重试 错误原因
The young man seemed to recognize him at the same moment, amber eyes widening a little before returning to their usual cool apathy. “Long time no see.”
少年似乎同时认出了他，琥珀色瞳孔微微放大后又恢复了惯常的冷淡漠然。"好久不见。"
Cloud let Leslie draw his gun back first before lowering his own weapon, keeping a careful eye on him all the while. He may have helped Tifa and Aerith before, but that didn’t have to mean anything.
克劳德任由莱斯利率先收回配枪才放下自己的武器，全程保持着警惕注视。这人或许曾帮助过蒂法和爱丽丝，但这并不意味着任何保证。
The other was wearing a black cap over his short silver hair as usual, a black and red leather jacket thrown over a white shirt paired with black three-quarter trousers and tall boots. His dominant hand seemed to be the right one, curled around the gun, and a black glove covered his left one.
对方如常戴着遮盖银色短发的黑色鸭舌帽，红黑皮夹克随意搭在白色衬衫外，下身配着黑色九分裤与高筒靴。惯用手显然是持枪的右手，而戴着黑色皮手套的左手则虚握成拳。
His features were youthful, and Cloud estimated him to be a little younger than him, almost even a boy, but there was something street-smart, jaded and hard about him that made him seem years older than his actual age.
他的面容尚存稚气，克劳德判断他比自己略小些，几乎算得上少年模样。但那份市井淬炼出的机警与沧桑感，让他显得比实际年龄老成许多。
“What brings you back here?” Leslie asked, casual and neutral.
"什么风把你吹回来了？"莱斯利语气平淡得像是寒暄。
Tifa knew Cloud too well and placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him down. It was obvious she trusted this guy and thought Cloud was being too aggressive. Her kind eyes shone warmly, looking crimson in the red walls of Corneo’s mansion and seeming to almost glow with an inner light that had nothing to do with mako. She answered that they were trying to find a way to get topside and thought their best shot would be Corneo. 重试 错误原因
Leslie seemed to take this in, though his gaze wasn’t on Tifa, or any of them, but on their fourth companion who hung back behind them. There was a glint of fear in his amber eyes. 重试 错误原因
“So the rumors of Avalanche and the Great General Sephiroth working together are true.” 重试 错误原因
A dark chuckle resounded through the room, making the hairs on Cloud’s nape rise. 重试 错误原因
“Unlike your friends, you were smart enough to move out of my way when I approached, and run.” He softly tilted his head, smiling. “You should be proud of yourself. Not many live to tell the tale.” 重试 错误原因
He didn’t bother to hide the glow of his eyes. It was all the brighter against the darkness of the veil.
他并未费心遮掩眸中幽光。在漆黑面纱的映衬下反而更加醒目。
Leslie’s grip tightened around his gun. He looked like he might bolt again, and Cloud interfered before he could. He was their best lead yet on Corneo’s current whereabouts.
莱斯利攥紧了手中枪械。他看起来又要夺路而逃，克劳德在他行动前便横加阻拦。毕竟这人是他们目前掌握的、关于科尼欧行踪的最佳线索。
“Sephiroth,” Cloud said, stepping between the two. “Stop antagonizing him.”
萨菲罗斯，"克劳德横亘在两人之间开口道，"别跟他对着干。
Sephiroth met his disapproving gaze without any trouble, eyes glittering with much mirth and amusement.
萨菲罗斯毫无困难地迎上他不赞同的目光，眼中闪烁着满满的愉悦。
“Very well,” he said, chuckling. 重试 错误原因
He then proceeded to leisurely unwrap the shawl from his head and shoulders, tucking it somewhere safe in some sort of inner pocket. Cloud didn’t stop him; there wasn’t really any point in concealing his features from here on out. Sephiroth moved on to free his braid from the back of his coat, but seemed to run into some trouble as it snagged somewhere, refusing to come out.
他随即慢条斯理地解开头巾，将缠绕在头部和肩部的布料收进某个内袋妥善保存。克劳德没有阻止——事到如今再遮掩容貌已毫无意义。萨菲罗斯接着试图将长辫从外套后背的束缚中解放，但编发似乎被某处卡住了，任凭他如何拉扯都纹丝不动。
Cloud watched this for another few moments before letting out a silent sigh and walking over, pushing Sephiroth’s hands away with some irritation. Sephiroth seemed a little startled at his sudden approach, but he acquiesced easily enough, letting Cloud slowly and gently coax his hair out with some careful tugs and pulls as he stood behind him. It was a rather long braid after all, and his coat was rather tight-fitting and made of unyielding leather besides.
克劳德冷眼旁观片刻后，无声叹了口气走上前，带着几分不耐拍开萨菲罗斯的手。银发人对这突如其来的靠近略显诧异，却温顺地任由对方绕至身后，用轻柔的力道小心翼翼地将长发从皮革的桎梏中一寸寸抽离。毕竟那条发辫委实过长，而外套又是如此紧身且材质坚硬的皮革制品。
Leslie didn’t seem to be quite sure what to make of the cheery, bright flower in Sephiroth’s hair, looking both wary and utterly befuddled. It was probably the most expression Cloud had ever seen on the other’s usually so impassive face, and he took pity on him.
莱斯利盯着萨菲罗斯发间那朵明艳的太阳花，神情既警惕又完全困惑。这大概是克劳德在这位向来面无表情的男人脸上见过最鲜活的表情了，他决定发发善心。
“So…” he started, “you know where Corneo is?”
那个……"他开口道，"你知道科尼欧在哪儿吗？
That seemed to have the desired effect of snapping Leslie out of it. “Yeah. I also know of a way to get topside… I could help you out with that.”
这句话似乎成功让莱斯利回过神来。"嗯。我还知道有条路能通到顶层……我可以帮你们这个忙。"
Well, that was one less thing to worry about. Cloud nodded distractedly, preoccupied at the moment, and Tifa took over the conversation. He listened with half an ear as Tifa told Leslie that this was great and she was glad that they had run into him, skillfully smoothing the tides over after Barret had rather aggressively demanded to know the way to get topside.
至少不用再担心这个问题了。克劳德心不在焉地点点头，此刻正专注地处理手头的事，蒂法便接过了话头。他听着蒂法对莱斯利说这真是太好了很高兴能遇到你——在巴雷特相当咄咄逼人地追问前往顶层的方法之后，她巧妙地缓和了紧绷的气氛。
It took some patience and delicate maneuvering, but the braid finally slipped out of the coat without taking any damage. Cloud removed his hand from the back of Sephiroth’s neck—he hadn’t even known when he had placed it there. That was when he noticed the weight of eyes on his skin. Amber immediately flickered away when Cloud looked over, Leslie pretending that he hadn’t been staring all this time.
经过一番耐心细致的操作，发辫终于完好无损地从外套中滑脱。克劳德将手从萨菲罗斯的后颈抽离——他甚至不记得自己何时把手搭在了那里。这时他突然察觉到皮肤上灼烧般的注视。当他转头时，那双琥珀色眼眸立刻移开，莱斯利假装自己从未长久凝视。
Cloud eyed him critically before turning back to his task, finding that he didn’t really care. He gathered the silver hair in front of him gently into both hands, sliding down its smooth length until it was perfectly aligned between Sephiroth’s shoulder blades and trailed down his spine.
克劳德审视地瞥了他一眼，随后继续专注于手头的工作，发现自己其实并不在意。他将垂落身前的银色长发轻柔拢起，双手顺着柔滑的发丝滑至发梢，直到它们如月光般妥帖地垂落在萨菲罗斯肩胛之间，沿着脊椎垂落。
Even braided it went down to the top of the man’s upper thighs. It was some of the longest hair Cloud had ever seen, and yet Sephiroth handled it so roughly and carelessly. “It’s a wonder your hair was able to get this long, and even stay that way.” 重试 错误原因
Sephiroth tilted his head slightly at this, some of his profile becoming visible, the perfect marble of his cheek, the curl of his impossibly long lashes. 重试 错误原因
Before he could answer though, Cloud already continued with—“Let me guess. Benefits of being a god?” 重试 错误原因
This elicited a small laugh from the other man who turned around more fully. 重试 错误原因
“Not everything can be traced back to my godhood.” 重试 错误原因
Cloud raised a brow. “What other explanation would you give then?”
克劳德挑起一边眉毛。"不然你还能给出什么解释？"
Sephiroth hummed, seeming to consider this seriously as he placed his elbows on Cloud’s shoulders, putting his weight on him as he leaned in.
萨菲罗斯低哼一声，手肘支在克劳德肩头，将全身重量压向他时仿佛真的在认真思考这个问题。他越凑越近，银发如银河倾泻在两人之间。
“Superior genetics,” he finally said, their faces inches from each other. Cloud snorted at this, and Sephiroth looked at him with glowing eyes at half-mast for a moment before they slid completely shut as he leaned in to nuzzle Cloud’s nose with his own in a surprising show of playful, wordless affection.
"优越的基因。"他终于开口，两人的脸相距只有几英寸。克劳德嗤笑出声，萨菲罗斯半垂着荧光的竖瞳注视他片刻，忽然完全阖上眼睛，用鼻尖亲昵地蹭了蹭他的鼻梁——这是种令人意外的、无言而顽皮的亲昵。
“And I’ve got you now to take care of my hair, don’t I?” Sephiroth’s smile was almost cheeky when he pulled back. Not too far though, still close enough to kiss if Cloud decided to breach the distance between them.
"而且现在有你帮我护理头发了，不是吗？"萨菲罗斯后撤时带着近乎戏谑的笑意。其实并未退太远，仍近到只要克劳德愿意就能吻上来。
Cloud did want to kiss him. But then, he always did. It had only been made worse by the shawl that only bared Sephiroth’s lower face and lips, hiding everything else but that dark, sinful mouth of his that was perpetually curled in an amused smile, capable of uttering words that effortlessly carved Cloud open, slicing through his flesh layer by layer, just as lethal as the Masamune, whether it be with want, fear, anger or hate. He was able to evoke all these things in Cloud with just his voice, jerking him around as easily as a puppet on a string.
克劳德确实想吻他。但说实在的，他无时无刻不想这么做。那条仅露出萨菲罗斯下半张脸与双唇的披肩更是火上浇油——它遮蔽了其余所有部位，唯独让那抹永远挂着戏谑笑意的暗色罪恶唇瓣暴露在外。那张嘴能吐出将克劳德轻易剖开的字句，如同正宗刀锋般致命，层层剥开他的血肉，无论其中翻涌的是渴望、恐惧、愤怒还是憎恨。仅凭声音，他就能在克劳德心底掀起所有情绪，如同操纵提线木偶般将他玩弄于股掌之间。
Cloud supposed if he was anyone’s puppet, then he was Sephiroth’s.
克劳德自嘲，若自己真沦为谁的傀儡，那也注定是萨菲罗斯的傀儡。
At some point his hand had automatically found the dip of Sephiroth’s slim waist, stroking down his flank to settle there. He was very warm through the leather, and his appealing scent washed over Cloud, so much better than the nauseatingly heavy perfume permeating every room in the mansion.
不知不觉间，他的手已本能地抚上萨菲罗斯纤细腰身的凹陷处，沿着侧腹线条游移而下，最终停驻在那片温热的皮革面料上。对方体温透过皮革传来，清新气息如潮水般漫过克劳德，远比宅邸每个房间都弥漫着的令人作呕的浓烈香水味好闻千百倍。
“Don’t get used to it,” Cloud said, voice low.
“别指望有下次。”克劳德压低嗓音警告道。
Those hypnotic green eyes glittered warmly, a thoughtful hum escaping that pale throat, before Sephiroth leaned down and whispered into Cloud’s ear, lips brushing skin, “I think you are the one getting used to it, aren’t you?”
那双摄人心魄的碧绿眼眸闪烁着暖意，苍白喉间逸出若有所思的低吟。萨菲罗斯俯身贴近克劳德耳际，唇瓣轻蹭肌肤低语："习惯的人是你才对吧？"
Then he abruptly drew away, taking his weight and heat with him, leaving Cloud feeling strangely off-balance.
说罢他陡然抽身离去，连同体温与重量一并带走，突如其来的空荡感让克劳德在台阶上微微踉跄。
Heavy sarcasm dripped from Barret’s voice as he said, “If you two lovebirds are quite finished now…”
巴雷特嗓音里浸满浓稠的讽刺："二位爱侣要是调完情了......"
Cloud continued to stare at Sephiroth where he stood now, then turned to Leslie, completely ignoring Barret. “Alright. Take us to Corneo then.”
克劳德仍盯着萨菲罗斯此刻站立的位置，随即转向莱斯利，完全无视了巴雷特："带路去见科尼欧。"
“Hey,” Barret said. 重试 错误原因
Leslie nodded. “Follow me.” 重试 错误原因
“Hey!” 重试 错误原因
They both ignored Barret. Leslie opened the doors to Corneo’s bedroom, and Cloud entered not far behind him. Barret hurried in after them. Stopping next to Cloud, he growled, “Who died and made you the leader?”
蒂法轻轻而坚定地捅了捅克劳德，同时朝巴雷特使了个眼色。克劳德抱臂而立，盯着床前那个方形入口——那里翻涌着深不见底的黑暗。和巴雷特吵架总比直面萨菲罗斯的蛊惑来得容易，至少不用理会那些令颅内轰鸣的诡谲低语。
“Wasn’t aware you were ever the leader,” Cloud drawled. As the other man sputtered angrily, he cocked his head slightly. “Did you already forget? I’m a merc. I was never part of Avalanche. That was Tifa’s deal, not mine.”
Barret scoffed. “As if I’d ever want a SOLDIER on my team.”
“Ex-SOLDIER,” Cloud corrected.
Tifa nudged Cloud gently but firmly, while shooting Barret a meaningful look. Cloud crossed his arms, looking at the square opening in front of the bed that seemed to be filled with endless, menacing darkness. Picking a fight with Barret was easier than thinking about what Sephiroth had said, and the way it made his mind race.
It was frightening how touching Sephiroth had become such an easy habit. And not only that—Cloud had even joked with him. It was hard to believe that just at the start of the previous night, killing him had been the only thing on his mind. 重试 错误原因
Cloud knew that getting used to anything about Sephiroth was dangerous, fatal; inadvisable. At the same time, he wanted it, more than anything—though he doubted it was possible to ever get completely used to the other man. He was too extraordinary for that. 重试 错误原因
Red-violet light caressed Sephiroth’s skin and hair, and Cloud forced himself to focus. Leslie had his hands curled around the curved metal handles of the ladder leading down the trapdoor. He said something about having unfinished business with Corneo, though he didn’t elaborate on that. In fact, he didn’t elaborate on anything—and if they didn’t like that, he could always find others to work with. While sauntering through the room, he seemed relaxed, almost bored, but even though he didn’t look at Sephiroth, he also never completely turned his back to him. After listening to what Leslie had to say, Cloud agreed to his terms, again ignoring Barret’s protests. 重试 错误原因
“He betrays us, he dies,” Cloud said, simply.
“他背叛我们，他就得死。”克劳德简单地说道。
Tifa looked troubled. It made Cloud think of the time she stopped him from killing Johnny, the way her eyes had been dark, lips pressed into a thin line; how she had told him that he had changed, after. “He means it,” she warned Leslie.
蒂法面露难色。这让克劳德想起她阻止自己杀死强尼时的模样——那时她的眼眸幽深，双唇抿成细线；事后她如何对他说，你变了。"他是认真的，"她警告莱斯利。
“Don’t worry.” The smile on Leslie’s lips was tense. “I know better than to cross you.”
别担心。"莱斯利唇边的笑意紧绷着，"我还没蠢到与你作对。
His eyes found Sephiroth’s form then, who only tilted his head at him, dark lips lifting from his teeth in a smile that was both beautiful and terrifying. Cloud was sure he wasn’t the only one to shiver, though he was glad the intensity of that gaze wasn’t directed at him for once.
他的目光随即捕捉到萨菲罗斯的身影。银发男人只是朝他偏了偏头，薄唇微启，露出森森白牙，那抹既惊心动魄又令人胆寒的微笑让克劳德确信不止自己打了个寒战。值得庆幸的是，这一次那道极具压迫感的视线总算没有直勾锁定在他身上。
“I knew you were smart,” purred the man who had painted the walls of the mansion an even deeper shade of red.
"我就知道你是个聪明人。"那个曾将宅邸墙壁染成更深血色的男人用气音低语。
It sounded more like a threat than a compliment.
这听起来不像赞美，更像是一句威胁。
*
They were in the sewers again, in the filth and the stench of human excrements. It made Cloud think of the heavily perfumed mansion they had just left, how the strong spices that irritated his nose were likely there to hide the fumes of the sewage underneath. 重试 错误原因
As soon as they entered the dim green haze, Barret threw his own threats into the mix, but that was par for the course with him. Leslie seemed little impressed, even with a gun-arm pointed at his face. 重试 错误原因
He’d told them he would give them more information once they were down in the sewers, but said nothing about how to get topside, only the rough direction where Corneo’s hideout should be, which apparently was somewhere around the trunk line to Sector Seven. He only gave them as much as they needed to know at the moment. It was clever, Cloud had to admit. And it was probably why Leslie had survived in Wall Market for so long despite his age.
他告诉他们，一旦他们进入下水道，就会提供更多信息，但对于如何回到地面却只字未提，只大致指出了科尼欧藏身处的方向——显然位于七号区域的主干线附近。他只透露了他们当下需要知道的信息。克劳德不得不承认，这很聪明。大概这就是莱斯利尽管年事已高，却能在围墙市集生存这么久的原因。
Maybe a little too clever though—Barret didn’t trust him, and neither did Cloud. 重试 错误原因
And yet, despite how open and trusting Tifa may seem, she had always been good at reading people, able to tell who might be trouble as soon as they entered her bar, and keeping a keen eye on them even as she smiled warmly and smoothly poured out drinks. And Cloud didn’t know how, but more often than not she was able to convince them not to make trouble after all. It had to be because of her hearty, homemade stews, though her cocktail mixes were usually already enough to calm the most rage-filled or malicious of her guests. As such, skirmishes happened rarely, and even in the case they did happen, she had proven often enough that she didn’t need a bouncer anyway. 重试 错误原因
Cloud didn’t trust Leslie as far as he could throw him, didn’t trust his devil-may-care attitude, but he trusted Tifa. It had to be enough. 重试 错误原因
He also recalled Mireille’s words, how she had said that Corneo had countless secret rooms in the sewers, more than even he himself may be aware of. It was probably a good thing they had Leslie to show them where to go rather than forging their way through the tunnels on their own. At least they had already been to the trunk line yesterday, so that wasn’t too much of a problem. 重试 错误原因
Leslie followed from a distance, leaving them to deal with the monsters. He’d been convinced they wouldn’t have any trouble, especially with Sephiroth on their side. The underlying implication of them being less than capable of handling the monsters on their own was already bad enough, but what grated even more was the fact that Sephiroth continued his trend of not participating in the fights. 重试 错误原因
So much for Leslie having complete confidence in the man to get them through. But that was no matter. Cloud, Tifa and Barret would show him what they were made of soon enough. 重试 错误原因
So they fought, while Sephiroth stood back. Even in the dark, his hair was a brilliant shimmer, though it paled to the luminous glow of his eyes, feline, inhuman, as they watched Cloud’s every move, making his skin tingle, not enough to actually distract him, but enough for all his senses to be tuned towards the man.
他们奋力厮杀，萨菲罗斯却在后方静立观战。纵然置身黑暗，他的银发依然泛着冷冽寒光，但那双猫科动物般非人化的瞳孔却比发色更为灼目。锐利目光全程锁定克劳德的每个战斗动作，烧灼感穿透少年皮肤渗入骨髓。这种刺激虽不至于扰乱他的战斗节奏，却足以让全身神经末梢都保持着对银发男人的高度感知。
The monsters wisely stayed clear of Sephiroth.
魔物们识相地躲萨菲罗斯远远的。
But even in the rare case they were stupid enough to draw close, he didn’t do anything to defend himself, not even call Masamune to his palm. Cloud had seen what he could do. He didn’t even need his blasted sword to literally pulverize his opponents, as he had demonstrated very clearly in the colosseum. Yet he chose to do nothing, preferring to wait for Cloud to intercept the attack before it could hit its target.
偶有愚钝之辈胆敢近身，男人也全然不做防御姿态，甚至连掌中正宗都懒得召唤。克劳德曾亲眼见过他在斗技场徒手将对手碾成齑粉——那把妖刀根本就是可有可无的存在。可他偏要等克劳德冲过来截杀魔物，宁可用血肉之躯直面危险。
The first time it happened, Cloud had very nearly panicked, ripped out of his own fight when he saw Sephiroth’s figure standing absolutely motionless in the face of imminent danger. He hadn’t stopped to think before jumping in front of the man, Buster Sword raised and blocking the large pincers of the Scissorclaw about to cut through the other’s neck.
第一次目睹这般情景时，克劳德几乎肝胆俱裂。萨菲罗斯雕像般伫立在魔物利爪下的画面让他硬是从自己的战斗中抽身，大脑还未反应过来，身体已扛着破坏剑挡在男人面前。巨剑与剪刀爪兽袭向脖颈的螯钳相撞，火星迸溅。
He quickly dispatched the monster and took care of the rest with Tifa and Barret. After pulling his sword out of the last carcass, more pieces of rust brown carapace falling away like eggshells, he had walked straight up to Sephiroth, his face like thunder. Anger, fear and confusion warring inside him, feeling like a dark storm brewing just underneath his skin, he’d said, “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
他迅速解决了那只怪物，与蒂法和巴雷特联手收拾了残局。将长剑从最后一具尸骸中抽出时，锈褐色的甲壳碎片如蛋壳般簌簌剥落。他径直走向萨菲罗斯，脸色阴沉如雷暴，愤怒、恐惧与困惑在体内翻涌，仿佛皮下酝酿着一场黑色风暴。"你他妈到底在搞什么鬼？"他厉声质问。
Sephiroth had only smiled; it was the same bland smile he’d given the crab-like Scissorclaw that had been about to decapitate him. “I’m merely giving you the chance to redeem yourself.”
萨菲罗斯只是淡然一笑——那笑容与方才面对即将斩首自己的蟹型剪刀爪怪时如出一辙。"不过是给你个将功补过的机会。"
“Redeem myself?” Cloud had asked, thrown for a loop and thoroughly irritated. “For what?”
将功补过？"克劳德被这突如其来的说辞搅得心烦意乱，一时语塞又恼怒不堪，"凭什么？
Sephiroth had tilted his head, amused, his green eyes glittering through his lashes. “For failing to save me earlier, of course.”
萨菲罗斯饶有兴致地偏了偏头，翡翠色瞳孔透过睫羽闪烁着戏谑的光。"当然是为了给你机会弥补——"他顿了顿，"先前未能拯救我的过失。"
He meant the colosseum, Cloud forbidding him to use the Masamune and scolding him after because he had resorted to deadly and very flashy ice magic to defend himself. Was he really so petty to not only refuse to help them now, but also make himself an even bigger nuisance by no longer defending himself anymore even at the risk of his own safety? Oh, but who was Cloud kidding? This was Sephiroth. Of course he was this petty.
他指的是竞技场那件事——克劳德禁止他使用正宗，事后又因他被迫动用致命而炫目的冰魔法自卫而加以训斥。难道他当真如此心胸狭窄，不仅现在拒绝施以援手，甚至还要以自身安危为赌注停止防御，变本加厉地给人添堵？哦，可克劳德在自欺欺人什么？这可是萨菲罗斯。他当然能睚眦必报到这种程度。
Cloud had been beyond livid, growling low in his throat as the other man only continued to smirk down at him.
克劳德当时简直暴跳如雷，喉咙里发出低沉的咆哮，而对方只是继续挂着那副居高临下的得意洋洋笑容。
And yet, even despite the fact that Cloud knew Sephiroth was just playing games again, and it was probably better to just let him get hurt if that was how far he wanted to take it, he unfailingly placed himself between the other man and every monster stupid enough to try something, never straying too far to make sure he could still reach him quickly, sending a Firaga across the room the one time the battle drew him away without his notice. The red heat had illuminated the cold, elegant contours of Sephiroth’s face without ever touching him. But he didn’t even seem to care for the screeching body that burst into flames just inches from his own, eyes fixed on Cloud with a burning intensity that far surpassed the fire spell.
然而，即便克劳德心知肚明这只是萨菲罗斯又一次玩弄人心的把戏，即便放任对方受伤才是最优解——既然他偏要执拗至此——银发青年仍会固执地横亘在他与每一头胆敢进犯的魔物之间。他始终将彼此距离控制在触手可及的范围内，甚至在一次因战局所迫无意识远离时，抬手便朝那人身侧掷去一记烈焰大魔法。赤红火光掠过萨菲罗斯冰冷而优雅的面部轮廓，却未曾伤及分毫。而他对近在咫尺的焦黑残骸毫不在意，炽烈目光始终锁定克劳德，眼中燃烧的 intensity 远胜于任何火系咒文。
Cloud met his gaze, jaw set, well aware that he was dancing to the other man’s tune and doing it anyway.
克劳德咬紧牙关与他对视，明知自己正踩着对方的节拍起舞，却依然步步深陷。
A puppet on strings indeed.
活脱脱一个提线木偶。
It wasn’t long before they ran into the Stamp mascot painted on the brick wall, pulling them into a somber conversation about Jessie and Biggs. When Tifa curled around herself, chin sinking towards her chest, dark strands hiding her expression, her voice choked as she mourned the fact she never got to thank them for all they had done, Cloud placed his hand on her shoulder and told her, “You should thank them when we get back home in the slums.” 重试 错误原因
Home. Tifa and Cloud’s new home. It was still standing, and the reminder was enough to bring a small smile to her lips. “Jessie still owes you that pizza after all.” 重试 错误原因
“Damn right she does.” Cloud felt his own mouth twitch up at the corner. “Maybe we’ll visit her place together—all of us. You, me, and the others. Barret… and Aerith too.” 重试 错误原因
This time her smile was broader. “It’ll be a big family dinner!” 重试 错误原因
That was when Barret jerked his chin towards Sephiroth, arms crossed. “He’ll have to stay outside though.”
巴雷特此时正抱着胳膊，用下巴朝萨菲罗斯的方向一扬。"但他得留在外面。"
Honestly, Cloud hadn’t thought that far. But the fact that Barret bothered to include Sephiroth in their scenario at all revealed enough. “He’s not a dog,” Cloud said.
说实话克劳德根本没考虑过这个问题。但巴雷特愿意在计划里给萨菲罗斯留位置这件事本身就很能说明问题。"他又不是狗。"克劳德说。
“Oh yeah? Then why does he follow you around like one?”
哦是吗？那怎么跟条狗似的成天黏着你？
They continued to bicker all the way to the trunk line. Sephiroth’s expression didn’t change even once, Barret’s snide remarks and insults rolling off him like water off the ribs of a feather, but Cloud’s mind was on another topic entirely. The mental image of the Great General eating pizza… was a peculiar one. He certainly didn’t remember the other man having ever done so, let alone using his hands to pick up the greasy slices. Just the mere idea seemed barbaric… sacrilegious, even.
两人一路拌嘴直到主干线。萨菲罗斯全程面无表情，任由巴雷特的冷嘲热讽如流水滑过羽纹般消弭无形，倒是克劳德始终在想另一件事——将军大人吃披萨的画面实在太过诡异。他无论如何都想象不出对方用油腻腻的手指抓披萨的模样，光是这念头本身就粗俗不堪，简直是对神明的亵渎。
Leslie interrupted them to tell them to look out for a door bearing Corneo’s mark. Cloud and Tifa exchanged a glance and headed straight for the gate they had found the previous night. It was open this time.
莱斯利突然打断争吵，提醒众人留意刻有科尼欧标记的门。克劳德与蒂法交换眼神，径直走向昨夜发现的那扇铁门。这次它开着。
But before they continued, Tifa asked Leslie why he had helped them before. He answered evasively at first, then muttered something about not wanting to let it happen again, though he didn’t specify what exactly that was. He quickly ushered them on, cap hiding his expression. Cloud eyed him suspiciously, but let it go, following the others through the gate.
但在继续前行前，蒂法问莱斯利先前为何要帮助他们。对方先是含糊其辞，继而低声说了句不愿让往事重演，却未言明具体所指。他迅速用鸭舌帽遮掩神情，催促众人动身。克劳德狐疑地瞥了他一眼，却未深究，随同伴们穿过闸门。
They entered through a dark green steel door, Leslie leading the way from there since they were apparently close to Corneo’s hideout. He took them through wide spaces and narrow corridors until they arrived at another door. It seemed like they had to go through it, if they wanted to get topside, though Leslie said it wasn’t quite that simple.
众人穿过墨绿色铁门后，由莱斯利引路前行——据说科尼欧的藏身之所已近在咫尺。他带领队伍穿梭于开阔场地与逼仄廊道，直至另一扇门前。若要抵达上层似乎必须通过此门，但莱斯利表示事情并非如此简单。
That was when a small, rotund form rushed at them from behind, bowling Leslie over and snatching some sort of small pouch that he dropped.
恰在此时，一道矮胖身影从后方猛冲而至，撞翻莱斯利的同时，抢走了他掉落的小袋子。
The creature was short, though it couldn’t be called exactly small. It had little stubby horns that glowed green in an all-too-familiar way, a tail and a lolling tongue. The skin was a gray shade like stone, darker around the wrinkles and eyes, making it look like a bloated, squished gargoyle or particularly ugly rock. It only looked at them once before bounding down the corridor, surprisingly fast given its rather round, squat body. Leslie got up then with a jerk and informed them that the pouch contained the key to the door.
那生物身形矮壮，虽算不上娇小却与庞大无关。它顶着一对发着诡异绿光的短角，拖着尾巴耷拉舌头，灰石般的皮肤在褶皱处与眼周颜色更深，活像只肿胀变形的石像鬼或是丑陋的畸形岩怪。它只草草瞥了众人一眼便窜入走廊，圆墩墩的身躯移动速度出人意料地快。莱斯利猛地起身，僵硬地告知众人腰包里装着开启房门的钥匙。
Though Cloud had a hunch that he was lying to them, he was curious about the contents of the bag and why it seemed so important to the young man who usually didn’t seem to care much about anything at all.
克劳德虽直觉对方在撒谎，却对布袋里的物件产生了好奇——这个素来对万事漠然的青年为何会对此物如此执着？
And so the chase was on. They started down the damp hallway, their boots splashing in the puddles. Cloud took out multiple Sahagins at once in one powerful and looping swing, crimson flames flaring along the dark steel of his blade and streaking the air. As they took care of any monsters that stood in their way, Sephiroth remained adamantly and completely unhelpful. Same old.
于是追逐战再度上演。潮湿走廊里回荡着踏破水洼的脚步声，克劳德挥动黑钢剑刃划出赤红火弧，跃动的绯焰在空中拖拽出残影，将成群沙哈吉魔物尽数斩落。众人清剿拦路魔物时，萨菲罗斯还是一如既往地全程冷眼旁观。
They climbed up ladders and walked through storage rooms. More offspring of Corneo’s pet monster appeared. It meant they were dealing with a nest, and Cloud only hoped they wouldn’t walk into Abzu’s mate. The young monsters were unexpectedly nimble and annoying to deal with, jumping all around the place, then becoming like spinning tops. The most mischievous of the bunch that had stolen the pouch stopped to wait for them at times, hopping from foot to foot until they were just close enough before taking off again. It was just as slippery as its owner, and seemed to have the same rotten appetite for games. 重试 错误原因
As they walked deeper into the nest, they found more and more strange blue and green glowing growths covering the floors and the walls. They vaguely resembled Aerith’s flowers but were anything but. One had to be careful about the luminous pollen diffusing in the air like dust motes. Although it was scentless and only mildly toxic, the effect was cumulative and could be insidious, draining them faster than they might expect if they stayed too long. It was probably better not to linger in these parts. 重试 错误原因
Some of these tendrils hung down from the ceiling and seemed to reach out for them. They were beautiful, almost like stars, but they shouldn’t be touched. As pretty as these bioluminescent fungi were, they usually were an indicator for monsters being nearby—and nests in particular. It was not unlike the shimmering green and purple mushroom-like growths in the underground Shinra lab that seemed to live in a symbiotic, possibly parasitic, relationship with the Bugaboo larvae. 重试 错误原因
Although Cloud knew this, he couldn’t help but notice how the bluish glow caught in Sephiroth’s hair and pale skin, emphasizing his cruel, cold and statuesque beauty, and making it seem like he was carved from ice itself. It made him look alien, otherworldly, godly, as if he had truly come from the stars and the darkness of space, just like the monster he called Mother had. 重试 错误原因
It made Cloud long to reach out and touch him to reassure himself that he was warm and real and human. He didn’t, turning instead to the next monster to kill it. Besides, he knew there was no such reassurance to be found. Sephiroth might be warm and real, but that didn’t make him human. 重试 错误原因
Finally they caught up with the mischievous little imp in a room where these toxic growths were sprawling all over the place. The young monster was nothing compared to what it would be when it was fully grown and they defeated it swiftly. Cloud immediately went to the pouch and picked it up, confirming his suspicions when he pulled out a necklace instead of a key. 重试 错误原因
A pendant hung from the delicate chain in the shape of a lily, its petals a golden gleam, like a sun wreathed in silver leaves. 重试 错误原因
It was a token of affection, a clear proof of sentiment. Well, he wasn’t the only one. Cloud glanced at the flower still tucked safely behind Sephiroth’s ear, the only warm thing about him as the blue glow of the room reflected on the cold marble of his flesh. 重试 错误原因
When Leslie demanded to have it back, Cloud gave it to him freely. Leslie told them the story of how the pendant had been a gift to his fiancée who returned it to him when she was chosen as Corneo’s bride, after which she vanished without a trace. It had been six months since then. He tried for bravado, claiming to only mourn the money he spent on the gift, but it was clearly just a facade. 重试 错误原因
At Tifa’s gentle inquiry, Leslie revealed that he was here for revenge, that he wouldn’t be able to let go and move on until he got it. He clutched the dog tag around his neck tightly in his fingers while he said this, almost as though for comfort. 重试 错误原因
In the end, he was just a kid, forced to grow up too fast in the slums, and doing his best to survive on the streets of Wall Market. 重试 错误原因
Leslie apologized, and Cloud told him to think nothing of it, that their deal was still on the table as long as Leslie got them topside. Barret slapped a heavy hand on Leslie’s shoulder, adding his own gruff words of acknowledgement, clearly seeing Leslie in a far more positive light now. In the background, green eyes glinted brightly from the shadows of the room. It was hard to tell what their owner was thinking, but Cloud didn’t linger on it. And then they were following Leslie as he took the shortcut back to the door they had left earlier. They found what seemed to be the last of Corneo’s secret stash along the way, robbing it for good measure. Now, if that slippery bastard wanted to run again, not a single gil of his blood money would be left.
莱斯利道了歉，克劳德告诉他不必介怀，只要莱斯利能带他们回到地面，交易仍然有效。巴雷特重重一掌拍在莱斯利肩头，粗声粗气地附和着表示认可，显然此刻对他的印象大为改观。房间阴影处，一双绿眸在暗处灼灼发亮。难以揣测其主人在想些什么，但克劳德并未深究。随后众人跟随莱斯利抄近路折返至先前离开的那扇门。途中他们发现了科尼欧最后的秘密藏宝点，索性洗劫一空。如今即便那滑头混蛋想再度逃跑，他的每一枚沾血吉尔都将无处可寻。
Leslie stopped them before they could enter through the door, blocking their path by placing himself right in front of it.
莱斯利在他们即将踏入那扇门时拦住了去路，用身体径直挡在了门前。
There was an unyielding look in his amber eyes. Cloud saw the blue glow of his own reflected in them.
琥珀色的眼眸中透着一股不屈不挠的坚毅。克劳德看见自己瞳孔中泛着的蓝光倒映其中。
He thought of Leslie’s desire for revenge, how he had said that Corneo was his and his alone. The way he had clutched the dog tag around his neck so hard it must have bitten into his fingers, and the way he had handled the pendant so delicately and with such care in contrast to his harsh words.
克劳德想起莱斯利对复仇的渴望，想起他说科尼欧必须由自己亲手了结时的模样。那只攥住颈间狗牌的手用力到几乎要在掌心刻出血痕，与狠厉言辞形成鲜明对比的，却是他捧着挂坠时近乎虔诚的温柔。
Cloud nodded to show his understanding and Leslie dipped his own chin in silent thanks, but his eyes were already distant. He had the look of a man prepared to die, if only that meant he would take Corneo down with him.
克劳德颔首以示理解，莱斯利下颌微沉回以无言的感激，可眼神却已飘向远方。那是赌上性命也要将科尼欧拖入地狱之人特有的神情，带着玉石俱焚的决绝。
As he turned, they only saw his back, the glimmer of the golden dragon imprinted on the leather of his jacket, before he disappeared behind cold and heavy metal.
他转身离去时，众人最后瞥见的是他皮夹克上印着的金龙纹样微微泛着金光，旋即整个身影便被吞没在冰冷厚重的金属门后。
Cloud understood revenge. They all did.
克劳德理解复仇的滋味。他们全都感同身受。
They had all lost something to Shinra. They were the fragments of Avalanche, and ex-SOLDIERs who had a bone to pick with the corporation they had once fought for.
他们都曾被神罗夺走过珍贵之物。这群人既是雪崩组织的残部，也是与昔日效力的企业结下血仇的前任特种兵。
There was also Nibelheim to consider, Sephiroth’s own hand in its burning. Cloud had wanted revenge on the other man and thought he had gotten it, back at the reactor. Then the man had reappeared, back from the dead, once more turning his life upside down. Cloud didn’t think he had ever stopped wanting revenge. The only difference was that there was something he wanted more now.
尼布尔海姆事件同样不可忽视——那场大火本就是萨菲罗斯亲手点燃的。克劳德曾渴望向他复仇，并以为在魔晄炉一战中已得偿所愿。然而男人却死而复生，再度颠覆了他的生活。克劳德从不认为自己真正放下过仇恨，唯一的区别在于，如今他有了更想守护之物。
While Cloud moved to the opposite side of the corridor, Tifa and Barret remained anxiously rooted in front of the door. “Think the kid’s gonna be okay goin’ in alone?” the older man said, voice brimming with worry.
克劳德踱向走廊另一侧时，蒂法与巴雷特仍焦灼地伫立在门前。"让那孩子单独进去真的没问题吗？"年长的男人开口问道，嗓音里溢满忧虑。
Cloud leaned back against the cold and damp wall behind him, arms crossed, Buster Sword propped up beside him. His eyes were a lazy glow in the dark, their brightness matched only by Sephiroth’s, who curiously watched his relaxed demeanor in contrast to the other two.
克劳德倚着身后冰冷潮湿的墙壁，双臂交叠，破坏剑斜倚身侧。黑暗中，他慵懒发光的眼眸与萨菲罗斯的瞳光遥相辉映。后者正饶有兴味地注视着他与另外两人截然不同的松弛姿态。
“He’ll be fine,” Cloud said. “He’s got us for backup after all.”
不会有事的。"克劳德说，"毕竟还有我们做后盾。
They would give Leslie his chance at revenge, and if Corneo tried anything, well… then they would make him wish he had just quietly lain down and let the kid blow his brains out. 重试 错误原因
Simple as that. 重试 错误原因