A/N: And here is chapter 1! I thought I'd add a little humour to the first one, just to set the scene and enhance the camaraderie etc... I hope you like! XD Read and as always review! I'll try and get the next Eien chapter out asap, so please wait for that! Thank you for reading.
Chapter 1
Tifa stood behind the bar staring out at the street through the open door. She could hear the others making lots of noise but she fazed it out. Cloud had yet to return and he wasn't answering his phone, which wasn't anything new but she had a bad feeling, like a rock sitting in her chest. There was something wrong.
"Tifa! Come join us, Cloud will come back when he's done moping!"
She smiled at Yuffie as she walked into the bar area. "Just coming! I was going to bring in another bottle." She smiled holding up a full bottle of alcohol.
Cloud sat up as he heard the faint sound of boots on the wooden floor. He saw a tall figure walking toward him; a long, thin sword clasped in his hand. Sephiroth smiled down at him and lifted his sword pressing the blade against his neck. Cloud lifted himself up onto his elbows and stared at the man he thought he had killed.
"No." He said shaking his head in denial. "Impossible. I killed you. You're dead..."
"Am I Cloud?" Sephiroth said softly. "Did you honestly believe you could kill me that easily?"
Cloud moved away but the sword followed digging into his flesh a little and drawing a tiny drop of blood. "I saw you..." He whispered, his eyes glued to the man before him. "I killed you with my own hands! This isn't real!" He closed his eyes in an attempt to banish Sephiroth, when he opened them again he heard laughter but there was no sign of the man himself except for a few tiny black feathers. Cloud fell back and clenched his fists tightly.
The bar was now filled with drunken merriness, outside the sky was dark. Tifa sat with her friends as they all reminisced about the time they had spent together, the troubles they had had and the battle's they had fought. She was quiet through most of it, still worried about Cloud. Suddenly the door opened and she heard the familiar heavy boots making the floor boards creak, she stood and saw Cloud enter the bar. He was wet from head to foot, water dripped from his clothing onto the floor and his eyes were dark, too dark. Tifa walked over to him and looked up into his face.
"I'm home..." he muttered softly. She could hear the rain from outside and quickly shut the door. She took a moment to steal herself before turning back around with a smile.
"Welcome home, Cloud. I'll get you a towel...sit down and have a drink."
He nodded and fell into a chair. The others all looked at him.
"Cloud...?" Barrett began with narrowed eyes.
Cloud looked up and forced a smile onto his face. "I'm fine." He said. "Sorry I'm late but I had...some things to take care of."
Tifa dumped a towel on his head and he looked up at her. She leaned down and placed a glass before him. "This is a party, no sad faces allowed." She said.
Cloud nodded and began rubbing his hair with the towel while everyone went back to their conversations. He sat quietly barely listening to the others until someone sat in front of him, he looked up at Vincent. "It has been a while." He said and looked down at his metal plated hand as it rested on the table. "You seem...disturbed, is everything alright?"
Cloud nodded unable to meet the older man's eyes. Vincent was very perceptive and seemed to be tuned in to his every mood. However, the man wasn't very good at communicating so he would probably just sit in silence until Cloud answered. "There's nothing wrong. I'm just..." He thought for a moment before looking up into his friends reddish eyes. Vincent nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, I understand. There are things which shouldn't be delved into, things which will conjure up unwanted memories. I understand." After that he said no more and just watched the others socialising.
Cid had begun a card game and somehow managed to drag Cloud into it. Halfway through Cid paused and looked up, a sneaky, drunken grin on his face. "Wanna make this interesting?" he asked as his eyes met everyone else's.
"What do you mean?" Yuffie asked with wide eyes.
"He means gambling." Tifa said. "I can't afford to...sorry."
"Oh no...I don't mean gambling for money! I mean...stripping." Cid puffed on his cigarette slowly.
"Kyaaa! No! No way! I'm not gunna get naked in front of a bunch of dirty old men! Pervert!" Yuffie squealed as her cheeks turned bright red.
Cloud, who was sat on his seat with the back bit between his legs, looked down at his hand. He could win, easily. He looked around at the others. "I'm up for it." He said softly. Everyone stared at him in surprise. "What? I can have fun when I want...It's not like any of you could get me to take my clothes off anyway."
Cid laughed, "I'll take up your challenge!"
"Sounds...interesting." Tifa said quietly after looking down at her own cards.
"Anyone else?" Cid asked. He turned to Vincent who was sat in a dark corner. "How 'bout you?"
Vincent looked at him coldly. "No."
"Ahhh, spoil sport! Barrett?"
"I'm all in!" Barrett said with a grin.
Tifa giggled. "I like the idea of being in a room full of naked men!" her cheeks flushed slightly as her eyes met Clouds, he smiled at her. They hadn't been intimate since that time by the Northern Crater a year ago, Cloud always slept in another room if he was ever at home and they hardly saw one another. She sighed quietly wandering if they ever would be able to become a real family.
"I am unaccustomed to this strange human ritual...Unfortunately I am unable to remove my fur...or even hold the cards for that matter. I think I will have to sit this one out." Nanaki said from where he was sat on the floor, his tail swishing slightly from side to side.
"No problem, Red! We'll keep you entertained!" Cid said clapping his hand on Nanaki's head.
"I'll play...if you need an extra."
Everyone turned to the door. A man stood there leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, another man stood behind him.
Cloud stood slowly eyeing the pair. His hand slowly reached out to his side where his sword was leaning against the table. "Reno...Rude...what are you doing here?" he asked quietly.
Reno watched Cloud's hand carefully. "We didn't come to fight that's for sure...but if you wanna go at it that badly I'll be more than happy to oblige."
Tifa stepped up behind Cloud and took his wrist in her own hand gently making him lower his sword. He turned to her with a frown and she shook her head. He turned back to the two Turks, "Well?" He demanded.
"We came for drinks...this is a bar isn't it?" Reno said.
"..." Rude nodded.
"Yes, of course...but there was a sign on the door saying we were closing at eight." Tifa said. "But, we will be more than happy to let you join us."
Cloud tensed slightly and stared at Reno with narrowed eyes.
"Ooh...scary! I always liked that look..." Reno said with a nasty grin. "The look of a true SOLDIER...Oh wait...you were making all that up."
Cloud tightened his grip on the sword. "One more word and you'll lose an arm." He said softly. His right hand was on his sword and he moved subtly to protect his left by standing slightly sideways.
"Ah! Break it up! This is 'sposed to be a party! Drink! Have fun! No more fighting!" Cid said loudly leaning back in his chair and slamming his feet on the table.
Cloud watched Reno for a moment before relaxing and releasing his sword. He put it aside. "Fine."
"Yeah, Tifa...get me drink will you?" Reno said with a smile.
Tifa nodded and walked past him. Cloud watched the Turk's eyes follow her from the room. "Put your eyes back where they belong, Turk." He said quietly.
Reno laughed and took a seat beside Cloud's. Rude sat in another seat and watched everyone carefully. The tension slowly built up. "Hey, you jealous?" Reno said grinning at Cloud. "Ah, such a shame but I'm not into guy's..."
Cloud ignored him and downed his drink. Reno leaned forward suddenly, his face serious. "You're protecting your left side...you injured?"
Cloud froze and looked sideways at him. "What has it got to do with you?" he said softly.
Reno shrugged carelessly. "Just wanderin'."
"Stop it, what I do or don't do is none of your business." Cloud snapped quietly. "And if you say a word of this to anyone, I'll kill you."
Reno chuckled and watched Cid shuffling the cards for another round.
They began to play again, this time the Turk's joined in. Cloud felt uncomfortable with them around but he kept quiet, if Reno had noticed his disability then he could tell everyone and that would mean having to worry his friends unnecessarily. He glared down at his hand as if he could make them burst into flame just by staring.
Reno watched everyone closely, he had a cocktail stick in his teeth and was chewing it. Rude adjusted his glasses carefully. Cid flicked ash into a nearby ashtray and blew smoke through his nose. Tifa tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced around the table quickly. Yuffie watched from the sidelines next to Nanaki, who watched everyone with fascination. Vincent sat behind Cloud looking over his shoulder.
Everyone looked at their cards closely. Cid was to start, he leaned forward and picked up a card looking down at it.
"Aw, hell! Bust!" Cid threw his cards down prematurely.
Tifa giggled. "I'll..." She reached over and picked up a card carefully. She turned it over and smiled.
When everyone had taken their turn they all looked at each other. They began to place their hands on the table, face up. Reno had twenty, Tifa had seventeen, Rude had ten and Barrett had twenty one. Everyone looked at Cloud who was staring at his cards and blinking.
"Come on, what ya got spiky?"
Cloud ran a hand through his hair and put his cards down. "Knew I shouldn't have taken you up on this..." He muttered to Cid taking a sip of his drink. Everyone laughed; He had less than Cid.
"Ok, a deals a deal...take it off!" Yuffie called enthusiastically.
"You sound way too happy about the fact that I lost..." Cloud muttered as he stood and unstrapped a few of his straps, everyone's eyes were on him. "...don't stare! I feel like a stripper!"
Tifa giggled and poured herself another drink. Cid sat forward and began chanting while banging his palm on the table. "Strip! Strip! Strip!" Tifa and Yuffie took up the chant giggling drunkenly.
Cloud unzipped his top and threw it over the back of his chair, his cheeks flushed slightly as he sat down. Tifa's eyes landed on the bandage on his arm and her brows drew down. He saw her and shook his head. "It's nothing. A scrape...I fell off of my motorbike."
She nodded uncertainly before returning to the game. Laughter filled the room and people slowly became more intoxicated, Cid managed to drag Vincent into the game by hassling him until he gave in through sheer aggravation. He refused to remove any item of clothing, even though, after he had lost for the third time in a row, Cid tried to take his clothes off by force. They had to stop before Vincent got really angry. Cloud relaxed slowly as the alcohol flowed through his system; he was down to his underwear and was on a bad losing streak.
"I'm gunna stop here..." He muttered as Cid began to deal again. "I refuse to go any further. I'm losing badly and I don't like losing!" Tifa had been reduced to wearing her white tank top and her panties, Cid was wearing his under shirt and boxers and Barrett was still fully clothed. The two Turks were in their white shirts and socks. Cloud stood and grabbed his trousers quickly pulling them up and over his hips, he turned to the others with a smile. They all groaned in disappointment. "Sorry!" He said, "Anyone need a refill?"
Cid held up his glass. "On the rocks!" he called while his eyes scanned his cards. Cloud took his glass and disappeared into the main bar.
He stood still a moment listening to the others; he felt a smile touch his lips. Suddenly he heard a creak and spun around, Reno stood in the doorway with his arms folded and a frown on his face. "Reno...don't sneak up on me." Cloud muttered before turning away and looking up at the bottles for the one he needed.
"What are you keeping from your friends?" Reno asked.
Cloud's hand paused before a full bottle, he sighed. "Nothing to do with you. I don't need or want sympathy from a ShinRa spy...leave me alone."
"Harsh. Don't act like that, it's been a year...we're not out to get you now and ShinRa's been reduced to just about nothing since..."
Cloud suddenly grabbed his left arm tightly. He gasped as pain rocketed through it making his fingers tingle unpleasantly. He gasped and fell to his knees bowing his head and breathing heavily.
"Cloud...? Hey, you ok?" Reno took a step forward but Cloud lifted his hand making him back off.
"Don't...tell anyone." Cloud said through the pain.
"You're..." Reno stared down at the blond. "You're sick?" He whispered.
Cloud nodded his head, the pain rendering him speechless. He gritted his teeth against the agony that made him want to scream. After what felt like hours the pain receded, he sighed and began to relax. "Please...Don't say a word of this to them. If they find out...I...wouldn't be able to look at them. It's my problem...and when the time comes...I'll...deal with that then. For now, let them be happy...for just a while." He gasped as he stood slowly.
Reno looked at him and shook his head. "Geeze, you're an idiot..." He rubbed the back of his head.
Cloud froze and stared at the red head with wide eyes. "What did you say?" He muttered.
"What? I called you an idiot..."
"Yeah...I'm sorry...you just reminded me of someone I knew..." He shook his head and grabbed the bottle from the shelf and poured it. "Let's go back."
They returned to the party and drank more. The night ended with the Turks returning home and everyone crashing in the bar. Cloud spent the night in the spare bedroom lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling. He felt his eyes close and, as he teetered on the edge of sleep, he heard a soft swishing sound and his eyes flew open, he stared around at the dark room. A shadow loomed over him and he saw the moonlight glinting off of silver hair. A hand reached down and closed over his mouth making him grab the intruder's wrist in both of hands. The figure leaned down and whispered.
"Hush, you don't want Tifa finding out do you?"
Cloud released the hand quickly. The bed dipped as Sephiroth sat down. This was too real...this was wrong. Cloud's mind tried to assimilate the situation but there was just no way this could be real! He was dead! He had killed him himself! Sephiroth chuckled and leaned down so his soft hair brushed Cloud's face. "You are unusually obedient today...is it perhaps...this?" He gripped Cloud's arm tightly making pain shoot through his body. Cloud bit his lip stifling his cry, his eyes met Sephiroth's.
"Please...stop...go away..." he muttered.
The silver haired man shook his head slowly. "Oh no...I have to have my revenge. You killed me remember?" His grip tightened on the black mark and he watched Cloud's contorted face avidly. "Does it hurt? How do you like my gift? I call it Geostigma...That look, keep that up...it suites you."
Cloud gasped and squeezed his eyes shut. He was burning up. The pain in his arm gradually increasing, Sephiroth's fingers dug into the tender flesh making black liquid seep from the damaged skin. He moaned softly as the agony increased to unbearable proportions, sweat broke out on his brow and he managed to open his eyes enough to see his nemesis's face. "Not...real..." he muttered as tears sprang into his eyes. "Not...real...you can't be..."
"Does this feel real to you?" he whispered gently rubbing at Cloud's crotch. The boy moaned as he felt himself harden unwillingly. Sephiroth laughed into his ear and ran his tongue up the side of his neck. "I told you that you would belong to me...no matter what, Cloud...You will always be my toy."
Cloud gasped as Sephiroth's hand slid beneath his shorts. He brought his hand to his mouth to stifle his noises. "This...isn't happening..." Cloud muttered against the side of his hand. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back moving against Sephiroth's hand.
"Deny it all you want, you are obviously feeling it whether this is real or not."
"Nnng...Stop...this...ha..." He opened his eyes slightly, they were glassy with desire but his hand gripped Sephiroth's wrist tightly and halted the movement. "Wrong..." He muttered incoherently. "Shouldn't...be happening..."
"Do you remember Cloud? Do you remember all those times we had together? In the ShinRa training barracks? In the library? Even in the very lifestream it's self?"
"I...I do..." Cloud muttered as Sephiroth pulled him into a sitting position. "But this...this is wrong!" He felt a sting in his arm and he grabbed it tightly, wincing. "What have you done to me?"
"I told you, it is a gift. A disease created when I joined the lifestream, it infects those with my genetic code and eventually kills the victims returning them to the planet where they will surround it...but I will not give away my whole plan. In time, I will return to a body and then you will be at my mercy. I will have you back..." He ran his fingers delicately down Cloud's exposed neck. "Look at you, you're perfect...a little porcelain doll created for my own pleasure. Exquisite...that look of despair on your face is irresistible..." He leaned down and kissed him, his tongue sliding through Cloud's slightly parted lips. After a small pause Cloud lifted his arms and wrapped them around Sephiroth's neck pulling himself closer. He couldn't stop himself. He gave in to the call of his body, whether it was a hallucination or not, he didn't care anymore.
END NOTE: Just thought I'd add an explanation of the card game: Strip black jack 21 is something I play with my own friends on those drunken party nights. I have a lot of fond memories of those times so I put it in here, the reason its Cid who comes up with the idea is that he seemed to be the kind of person who'd do it. XD I wrote it how I play it, simple non-complicated rules so that no matter how pissed you are you can still play as long as you can see the cards!
