The Burdened

"Sephiroth, I'm Cloud. I love you. I want to have your babies."

–––––

After confessing, Cloud grinned like a fool who was madly in love. Wait – he is one. Don'ttellZack.

And then he fainted.

Right into Sephiroth's waiting arms, mind you. Why Sephiroth was waiting, Zack would kill to know. Although he liked to think that the General caught Cloud purely out of reflex.

"Zack, I request that you leave Cloud Strife in my care for tonight."

Oh nonono, Zack wouldn't budge even if Gaia herself asks.

"Idon'tknowaboutthis, Seph," the First reasoned, eyeing Cloud and mentally calculating his chances of successfully snatching the blond away before he got a throat full of Masamune.

"I insist," Sephiroth, well, insisted. More like demanded, actually.

"He's really veeery drunk," Zack made sure he emphasized drunk.

We wouldn't want Sephiroth to get any ideas because of that confession, now, would we?

"I can tell that you're drunk too, Zack."

"Nope, I'm sober." Guess why.

Just then, as if by some divine intervention, Sephiroth's phone rang. Thank Gaia. Zack used this opportunity to run off with Cloud. However, he couldn't help but contemplate how unusual it was to receive phone calls around midnight.

Oh well, Sephiroth is a busy man, after all.

–––––

" – then the mood kinda changed so you – "

"Zack, please."

" – ordered another drink and I did too – "

"Zack, stop talking."

" – but this guy besides me starts talking and I – "

"Zack! SHUT. UP."

The First inwardly sighed in relief. When Cloud awoke that morning with a hangover and asked him what happened, Zack was hesitant to tell the blond. But he didn't want to lie to his bestfriend so he gave an impressively boring and blow-by-blow account of that night, from how many shots they had of which drink and why he thinks the girls in that table are ogling him, in hopes that the blond would get irritated and shut him up before they got to the Sephiroth part.

And shut up he did.

If last night's Sephiroth-heart-event doesn't exist in Cloud's memory, it doesn't exist at all. And that was best for both of their hearts.

–––––

The morning passed uneventfully and that afternoon, Cloud was well enough to watch movies with Zack.

He persuaded Zack into watching the credits of a Shinra movie remake of LOVELESS Act II. He was actually waiting for Sephiroth's name to appear – pleasedon'ttellZack – but all he got was Directed by Genesis Rhapsodos, Starring Genesis Rhapsodos, Introducing Genesis Rhapsodos.

Screw this movie.

Zack, on the other hand, was confused as to why Cloud wanted to watch the freakin' credits of some poetry-crap based movie roll. He figured it had something to do with the hangover-headache so he didn't mind. There was a more a pressing matter to attend to, after all.

"Cloud, you never told me about the movie you're working on."

"We haven't started it yet."

"I heard that it was some kinda feudal movie."

Cloud was so not talking about his role to Zack.

"So Spikey, which part do you play?"

"I, uh, the umm – " Cloud, who had his eyes glued to the TV screen throughout the whole conversation, suddenly stopped.

The credits ended and the screen changed to plain black to plain silver.

Zack grabbed the remote. "What's up with the TV?"

"No, don't!" Cloud nearly cried out. "I've heard about this! Don't change the channel, Zack."

(The screen of silver was slashed into two to reveal the slim and slender silhouette of a walking Sephiroth. It was dark and there was not much to see. Then, there was an ear-piercing howl.)

At this point, Zack, who knew where this scene was going, switched to another channel. Cloud gave an equally ear-piercing howl of "NOOO!" only to find out that the channel they landed on was playing the exact same thing.

(Suddenly, the moon appeared overhead, casting a faint light over the forest. There, in front of the silver-haired man was a very oversized wolf. Sephiroth didn't look fazed. His eyes and hair glowed. His Masamune, which had just finished neatly halving the monster-wolf, glowed too.)

By now, Cloud was practically melting in his seat and Zack was angrily switching through the channels. They were all showing the same footage of Sephiroth though.

(Sephiroth then glared at the camera and continued walking, as if nothing happened.)

Cloud started to swoon.

(The silver screen was back but there was a silver bottle of shampoo on the side. In a deep, velvety, monotonous voice, Sephiroth spoke,

"Smooth and Silver. Sephiroth Shampoo. Comes in Rose and Vanilla. For the battles your hair has to fight. Limited edition.)

After the commercial, all that remained of Cloud was a puddle of blond mush.

Zack, beside him, was indignantly sputtering some nonsense along the lines of "So hair fights battles now?" and "Limited edition, my ass! The stocks just disappear then reappear on the shelves with higher price tags!"

Cloud simply sighed contentedly.

"And why was he glaring at the camera!"

"Zack, he wasn't glaring."

"He sure was! He probably gave the poor cameraman a heart attack!"

"Zack," Cloud turned his whole body to face Zack. "He was giving us the Signature Stare."

"Signature WHAT?"

"That's the name according to the club members."

"Uh-huh. Anyway, how do you know about Sephiroth's upcoming commercials?"

"Huh?"

"Y'know, before the commercial? When you said 'I heard about this'?"

"Oh. Well, I'm an important club member, because I'm an ACTOR, you see? So The President sent me a message… about…that."

TMI moment, much?

"What club member?"

"Nothing."

"What. Club. Member?"

"It's. Nothing."

Before Zack could utter another word, his doorbell rang.

"Go get the door, Zack Fair!" Cloud barked.

Cursing, the First rolled off the couch and answered the door.

The blond exhaled in relief. He was this close to being busted!

But, who cares if he and his idol were both male? Who cares if his 31-chapter "My Sword-Wielding Prince on A Silver Stallion" story won Best Literary Piece in the 19th Annual Sephiroth Awards? Who cares if he's a very valuable Silver Elite member?

Cloud had a feeling Zack would, so don'tyoudaretellZackFair, mister!

Seconds later, the First walked back to the living room with a silver package in his hands and a dazed look on his face.

"It's for you, Cloud. I dunno how they know you're here, though."

"Who from?"

"Dunno. ACTOR who delivered it said the same."

Gingerly, Cloud tore off the silver wrapping and was met with a sight of hangover remedies and a MASTERED Esuna material.

"Whoa, buddy, whatcha got there?"

As Zack rummaged through the presents, a small silver letter caught Cloud's eye. The blond took it and undid the folds. Blood rushed to his face as he read the note, then he panicked.

"Zack, what should I do," Cloud seized Zack's arm with one hand and squeezed. "Gaia, Zack!"

When his arm started to hurt, (damn, that blond is stronger than he looks) the First gently pried Cloud's hand from his abused limb.

"What's wrong, Cloud?" In an attempt to soothe his friend, Zack placed a hand on the side of Cloud's face and ran his thumb over his cheek. "Tell me."

Cloud looked hysterical but, strangely, he was blushing.

"Hand me the note."

The Third obeyed.

Zack sat Cloud on his lap and rested a hand on the blond's hip.

(Talk about taking advantage of the situation.)

With the other hand, he held up the note which was written in an elegant cursive.

It read,

Cloud,

I heard you went out to drink last night. I'm sure these would help.

If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to meet up with you tomorrow. 10 AM at the Briefing Room.

Let us use the time to get acquainted for our project.

Sephiroth

After reading, Zack placed his cheek on the blond locks, drafting a plan in his mind.

"Zack, what if I mess up in front of Sephiroth tomorrow?"

Tactics confirmed. Accept mission? Yes.

"Don't worry, Spike. You won't," Zack grinned. "I'll guide you every step of the way!"

The Burdened

I want to finish this real soon.

BTW, Sephiroth's ringtone is The World's Enemy!

KyuubiTheKid, sunset in love, Talos Angel,Ruhina, as thanks for reviewing, you all get a copy of Cloud's 31-chapter "My Sword-Wielding Prince on A Silver Stallion". You have to pester Cloud for it; we aren't exactly on good terms…

Criticism is highly-appreciated! Fangirl-ing and squee-ing are absolutely welcome.