Chapter 3

"Yuffie!"

Cloud looked around the ball room, not seeing anybody. A harp was against the wall, along with a piano. Those were the only things that were in the room, except him and Tifa. Cloud tried not to sigh in boredom, looking up.

Cloud's eyes widened in disbelief, Tifa turning to him to tell him they would try a different room. She noticed his surprise, looking up herself and following his gaze.

They found Yuffie.

"Yuffie, get off the chandelier!" A dark haired girl looked upside down to them, her uniform Cloud noticed a tad more revealing. The so called Yuffie turned around, resting on top of the chandelier, looking down normally to them.

"Who's the new kid?" Yuffie asked, Cloud's expression having yet to shift from surprise. He couldn't see how anybody could get up there. Cloud himself was very nimble with a strong jump, able to get places people doubt. He couldn't even get close to that chandelier.

"His name is Cloud. He just came in yesterday." Yuffie looked to Cloud, her eyes narrowing slightly. She jumped down, Cloud frightened for her life. He couldn't help but gasp in fear, the chandelier swinging dangerously.

Yuffie landed on her feet in a crouch, Cloud giving her a look of awe and shock. Only a crazy person would do that. Cloud had felt respect for her, until she started talking.

"Got any materia for me?" Yuffie asked, Cloud not even sure that a butler like himself, a used to be slave should be given a materia.

"No, I have to check if he can use them first Yuffie. I was hoping on getting to that next week," Tifa supplied, Yuffie scrunching her nose in distaste.

"Then what am I supposed to steal?"

Cloud smirked slightly, talking before he thought about his words.

"You could never succeed in stealing from me." Yuffie looked to him with a raised eyebrow, her lips pulling up into a smirk. Cloud instantly regretted what he said. Yuffie was climbing chandeliers and Gaia knew what else.

Cloud doubted he would notice if she stole from him.

"Alright. Tifa I think we should train him today. Give him a fair fight against me for next week." Cloud looked to Tifa, wondering if they were really going to give him a materia. He had never used one before, but he heard stories about them.

"I'll have to get permission," Tifa told Yuffie, turning around. Sephiroth stood against the door, Cloud almost jumping from absolute terror when he turned around. Sephiroth never made any noise when he did things, leaving everybody to believe that he wasn't there.

"Permission granted." Cloud felt his heart beat hard in his chest at the mere sight of Sephiroth and fear, fearing that he would lose against the short girl. He was led outside to what seemed like the training grounds, Tifa staying by his side. Sephiroth leaned against the building, his eyes never leaving Cloud.

"Alright, this a fire materia." Cloud looked down to the red ball, taking it from Tifa's hand slowly. It felt weird. It felt alive in his hand, Cloud trying to tell himself it was just a magic ball.

Nothing else.

"To use a fire materia, you have to produce the emotion of anger. Look at your target."

Cloud did, the fat stuffed scarecrow about sixteen feet away.

"Imagine it burning."

Cloud didn't see it burning. He saw the Don burning. Cloud frowned in hate, the Don looking to him with a lecherous grin. Cloud almost growled at him, the Don taking a step forward. Cloud took a step back on instinct, growing angry from the fact he couldn't face that man.

"You'll spread your legs for me, very soon my pretty." Cloud took a step forward with a growl of anger. His vision ended abruptly when he felt his hand get burned, the crackling of sparks forcing him to open his hand.

Cloud gasped, dropping the materia. He grabbed his wrist, looking to his burned hand. It was easily a second degree burn, Cloud biting his lip from the numbing pain.

"How did you do that?"

Cloud looked to Tifa, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and pain. He looked down to the materia, but it was just laying on the ground lifelessly. Cloud looked back to Tifa, not sure what she was talking about. He just got burned.

"No one with no experience uses a materia that quickly." Cloud frowned in confusion at Tifa's shocked though proud expression, his eyes looking to Sephiroth who had come to his side. He took off a leather glove, Cloud wondering what he would do. Sephiroth touched his fingers to Cloud's, Cloud feeling a tingle throughout his hand. There was a slight numbing feeling this time, Cloud seeing his wound heal before his eyes.

Sephiroth pulled his fingers away from his when his hand healed fully, looking into Cloud's eyes. Cloud thought he would die from the sheer power and heat of his blush, his eyes not leaving Sephiroth's eyes. Cloud felt his body heat up, his eyes becoming lidded with arousal. Sephiroth didn't look away for a long second, but when he did, Cloud almost fell to his knees. Cloud was absolutely shaking like he was cold, but the way he felt was way off.

Tifa looked at the exchange, her eyebrows furrowing in displeasure.

"I think we should try again. I'll get you a hand brace." Cloud practiced for an hour, learning how to form a ball of fire in his hand. He couldn't throw it yet, at least not that far. Cloud hoped one day that would change. Sephiroth left five minutes before they finished, giving Cloud a small smile.

"You did very good," Tifa praised, the two walking back into the house. Tifa suddenly stopped, bowing deeply. Cloud looked up from the materia, a woman smiling in amusement at him.

Cloud bowed, the woman tsking softly. Cloud swallowed thickly, wondering if he would get in trouble for not bowing immediately in her presence. He opened his eyes when his chin was grabbed, the fingers not calloused and rough like Sephiroth's. They were soft, almost feeling like a mother's touch.

Not that Cloud actually knew the feeling.

His head was lifted, Cloud standing straight. He didn't look at the lady, keeping his eyes on the ground. Cloud followed when he was pulled closer, this woman easily taller than him.

"Look up."

Cloud did, seeing the woman up close. She had blonde hair that fell over his shoulders, her skin pale from the paste she wore. Her lips were painted a dark red, a black paste around her eyes. She was pretty, Cloud almost purring when she ran a hand through his hair. She pushed down a spike, but it easily just bounced back up.

"If I wasn't engaged to your Master, I would have considered you to be my husband."

Cloud didn't think she was that pretty.

She let go of his hair, turning away.

"Such a beautiful boy."

Cloud looked to Sephiroth who didn't say anything, but his eyes seemed angered for some reason.

Had Cloud done something wrong?

Cloud looked down, feeling something in his heart hurt. Sephiroth was engaged.

:::+:::

"What are you doing here Scarlet?"

Sephiroth sat down on the chair opposite of her, the drawing room empty besides them. Sephiroth had sent out all the maids, cooling tea between them on the table. Sephiroth hadn't expected her visit, but he easily played it off in front of the locals, making it appear she was always welcome in his home.

Sephiroth did not welcome her.

Anywhere in his life.

"Your mother asks I come so we may come together and conceive a child." Sephiroth chuckled at that, picking up his tea. He took a short sip, enjoying the bitter taste.

"You are barren Scarlet. She knows that."

Scarlet frowned, her eyes sending daggers into his head. Sephiroth didn't care. He had never touched the woman, she had slept with many men before. One had given her a disease, but she ignored it. She slept with Genesis, giving the poor man the disease. He was treated, but her's had gotten too extreme.

The doctor said himself, she could never have kids now.

"Touche," Scarlet sighed, Sephiroth putting down his tea. He wouldn't touch her even if he was paid.

"One of your maids should be suitable enough."

Sephiroth almost choked on his own saliva. He narrowed his eyes in displeasure, not believing what his ears were hearing.

"A maid? One of my maids?" Sephiroth stood, Scarlet backing up against her seat with fear. Sephiroth couldn't believe the gal of this woman.

"And my mother agreed to this?" He growled, Scarlet nodding once. Sephiroth tried not to burn down this room, unbelieving of this bull his mother tried to pull behind his back.

"Leave. I will do no such thing," Sephiroth ordered, Scarlet standing up slowly. She turned away, walking to the door. She stopped at the doorway, looking over her shoulder.

"It's what is best, Seph." She left with that, Sephiroth grabbing a vase. He ordered himself not to throw it, panting heavily through his nose. He slowly lowered the vase back down, looking to the clock in the room.

He summoned for Cloud on instinct, needing to see that blonde short boy.

He fancied the boy, Sephiroth could see the short man was hurt beyond all things. Sephiroth wanted him to feel safe in his home, something he had never felt for anybody else.

He wanted the boy to trust him.

But impure thoughts mixed with the concern. Sephiroth wanted to do many things when he touched his womanhood, felt his wetness against his fingers.

Sephiroth knew his impure thoughts were shared fully.

But...

He didn't want to take the boy like an animal. He was to be treated gently, Sephiroth knew that much. When he first saw him standing on that wooden stand with his eyes closed, he wanted to take him away from all of that.

When he saw his blood on his hand when he touched his back, Sephiroth vowed he would never hurt him in such a manner. When he saw him that morning in his cloth and unbuttoned shirt, Sephiroth wanted to tell him how beautiful he was.

Wanted to show him how beautiful he was.

But instead he offered him his bath. He wanted to heal his every injury, feed him till he no longer wanted to be fed.

The things Sephiroth wanted to do for him.

But his mother's words echoed in his head. They have been a raging storm in his head since he had met Cloud.

"You must marry a woman who is rich. She will make you powerful."

If only his mother knew that he didn't crave power. He worked to get here, a bastard son. He was the General of an army, higher above his old man who sat beneath the King's feet.

Sephiroth sat next to the King.

"You called for me, Master Sephiroth?" Cloud asked from the doorway, Sephiroth turning around to look at the blonde. He took in a deep breath, motioning for Cloud to sit. Cloud closed the door, sitting down in the seat Sephiroth stood in front of.

Cloud looked to the floor, the act only making him seem that more vulnerable. Sephiroth sat down across from him, his impure thoughts going on a rampage.

"Was today your first day using materia?" Sephiroth asked, Cloud looking up to him with his big blue eyes.

They were truly Sephiroth's weakness.

"Yes."

That seemed impossible from his quickly acquired skill, but Sephiroth didn't really care for that.

Sephiroth motioned for him to stand, Cloud doing so. Sephiroth just wanted to indulge just a little bit.

"Take off your shirt. Does your back still hurt?" Cloud seemed shocked from the command, but did it either way.

"It is just sore, Master Sephiroth," Cloud told him, placing his shirt on the chair. Sephiroth stood, Cloud turning around so he could see his back. It was still a little red, but it seemed fine. Sephiroth touched his hand to Cloud's back.

"Does this hurt?" Sephiroth asked, Cloud shaking his head.

"No, Master Sephiroth." Sephiroth put both hands on Cloud's back, feeling the soft skin. He leaned forward, taking in his scent. Cloud shivered visibly, Sephiroth moving his hands to grope Cloud's pectorals. Cloud took in a sharp breath, Sephiroth pressing closer.

He pushed himself away when Cloud's breath hitched, clearing his throat.

"You may put on your shirt and leave." Cloud did, Sephiroth left with a raging erection.

What the hell was he doing?