Are You Game?

Title: War Hostages
Author: GW Katrina
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: A little bit of cussing and some crude commentary
Word count: 1,071
Prompt: Final Fantasy VII, Yuffie/Zack: forced marriage - They demanded the princess, but the price was a husband for her.

Summary: Zack gets a change of assignment.

A/N: Yeah, this was my own prompt, but after giving it, I got hit by a bunny. Strangely enough, Yuffie herself never makes a real appearance, but she sure causes a big issue through the whole thing. It was fun.



Zack stared at Rufus for a moment, then rubbed his ear.

“I’m sorry. Could you repeat that?”

A sigh. “The treaty with Wutai involves the exchange of war hostages. Primarily from them to us. We’re taking charge of the princess of Wutai. Who I believe you’ve met?”

Zack nodded. “Not that part I wanted you to repeat, Shinra.”

That was a clear sign of his agitation, and Rufus just continued.

“Lord Godo has agreed to the terms, and the princess will be coming to live here in Midgar, to be educated in the privileges of living under Shin-Ra’s orders.”

That, Zack thought, has about as good a chance of working as him learning how to fly. From what he’d seen of the kid, she’d probably wait until nobody was looking then escape out the air vents. “Still not to the part I want repeated.”

The corner of Rufus’s mouth quirked up. Not a good sign. The younger Shinra had a sense of humor that could only be due to Reno, and Zack feared when the man smiled. It indicated he hadn’t hallucinated what he had heard.

“Part of the agreement, in order for us to keep the child here, is to wed her to someone of Lord Godo’s approval. Which apparently is whoever princess chooses. If they divorce, she returns to Wutai and the chance of war breaking out again is quite probable. Any children that result from the marriage will be the heirs of the Throne of Scales.” Blue eyes shifted from the paper to Zack. “And it appears as if the child has chosen you.”

Zack shook his head. “See, obviously you said no, -right-?”

Settling back, Rufus just gave Zack a look. “And why,” he asked in a rather cheerful voice, “would we do that?”

Eyes narrowing, Zack straightened up, hands resting easily on his waist. He didn’t intend it, but in the back of Rufus’s eyes, there was a hint of reaction to the almost threatening pose. “Because she’s, what, eight? Nine?”

“Ten. Nobody is saying to consummate the marriage at this time. Simply go through the ceremony. Then she will be wed, if not bedded for a few more years.”

That was remarkably blunt coming from Rufus, and Zack stared. “What?”

“You will have to sleep with her eventually, Fair. But you won’t be going by that name much longer. You’ll be taking her name.”

More dazed blinking, and Zack muttered about her family being the higher ranked one. He shut up when Rufus gave him a speculative look. Instead, he went about this from another direction. “You can’t force me to get married. Especially to a kid. Is that even legal to marry a ten year old?”

“In Wutai, infants can be married, so long as actual contact doesn’t happen until fifteen.” Rufus had obviously been researching, and then Zack twitched at the -look- the blond gave him.

Blue eyes intent, Rufus leaned forward. “The war has been going on for far too long, SOLDIER. If we do not come to terms over this treaty, the war will continue. How many more do you think would die if that was the case? How many thousands have already died over there, on both sides? You know we will not stop. When it comes to manpower, we have the advantage, and can spend it as needed.” He frowned at that, and Zack felt as if something nasty had died in his mouth. Blackmail. That’s what this was. Pure and simple.

“You’re right in the fact we can’t force you to do so. But if you refuse, we can make your life very, very miserable. At the very least, refusing is treason.”

And it was all to easy to see where accusations of treason would go. It happened far too often anymore. Too many people vanishing after being arrested for that very charge. He’d seen it himself.

“Not to mention there is a very nice young woman I would hate to tell Tseng to collect now. With force if needed.”

That was -definitely- blackmail.

Fuck, Elmyra would kill him if he got Aeris yanked back into Shin-Ra. Not to mention he’d never really forgive himself.

Maybe if he got a chance to talk to the kid, he could convince her otherwise....

Or maybe not. She was a stubborn brat.

“I’m going to find a way out of this,” he said bluntly.

“The princess will be here in a week. Make any plans you might need before then. Once she arrives, there will be another month or so to decide the wedding plans, and the ceremony will take place then.” Rufus smirked. “I’m sure your parents would like to attend. That is how most families do it, correct.”

Fingers curling into fists as he resisted the urge to put Rufus through the window, if only because he’d have to listen to the Turks bitch, Zack turned and started walking through the door. Rufus said something else, but he couldn’t hear the words through the dull roar in his ears.

Somehow, he found himself in Sephiroth’s office, and something in his face must have given away the fact he was agitated, because something that resembled concerned flashed across Seph’s face. “Zack?”

Sinking into the free chair, Zack felt sick. Still, he smiled, which seemed to make the concern stronger. “Hey, Seph, guess what?” Before the man had a chance to answer, Zack just curled forward, face resting in his hands.

“I just got picked to marry royalty. What a laugh, hmm?”

He was going to be sick. There was no other way about it. He was going to throw up very soon now if the world didn’t stop twisting like it was.

Scrap of a chair, and a hand rested on the back of his neck.

“We shall see, Zack.”

Then the hand was gone, and Zack heard Sephiroth leave the room. Probably going to go scare some answer out of something.

Making a noise that was a cross between a laugh and a painful gasp for air, Zack just shook his head.

His life was so screwed. So very, very screwed.

And he really wasn’t sure who the hostage here was. Yuffie, or him?

Either way, this was wrong on so many levels.

He’d have to find a way out. Somehow.

In a few minutes. Just a few minutes.

Just enough to get the shakes over with.