Shado: I gots both good and bad news! Sorry for the long wait, I got a really, really, really bad cold last week, and on Turkey Week! D: I was sick the whole last week, yesterday I had a bit of a coughing fit while at school cuz of too much stress on damn assignments and now, my right hand is gonna get arthritis when I turn twenty in a few years. *cries* That was the bad news.
BUT! Somehow I attracted a beta reader for this fic, it was surprising cuz the first beta reader I attracted was...well, a bastard. Excuse my French, but he was. I'm just happy this one is more friendly. So in a way, the beta reader was the good news. :D
Disclaimer: I own nothing...Well the plot yes, and maybe the goddess...not sure yet if I want one existing in FF7 yet or not. *shrug*
Chapter 8 Cautious Minds
Genesis was speechless. What brought his beloved general to such a state? The commander wished to ask, but now wasn't the time. If he asked such a question now, Sephiroth would dig deeper into his comforting hole and never come back out. Biting his lower lip, and with great care Genesis turned the general around into his lap.
Sephiroth didn't even glance at his lover. The general just stared into space; the glow in his jade green eyes was fading. Genesis laid soft kisses along Sephiroth's face, jaw line, and neck. A few times the commander felt Sephiroth shudder, but remained as still as a statue.
"When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end, the goddess descends from the sky. Wings of light and dark spread afar. She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting. There is no hate, only joy. For you are beloved by the goddess." The commander's velvety voice rehearsed, laying a few kisses along Sephiroth's collar bone and chest.
Sephiroth's tense body relaxed, but his eyes remained vacant. Remaining as calm as he could, Genesis pulled the other to his chest, nuzzling his nose into the silver cascades of hair. It was a loving embrace, and Sephiroth knew the answer. Genesis loved him unconditionally, but couldn't find the words to describe. The next best thing was to show his undying love to Sephiroth like any other would.
"I apologize, for doubting you. I was thinking irrationally after…a stupid argument with Angeal." Sephiroth sighed, leaning his head against his commander's shoulder.
"Wait, he's the reason why you're in this state?" Genesis blinked, now growing more worried.
"Cadet Strife is under Turk supervision. He wouldn't tell me why, and he told me neither of us could see him." Sephiroth explained.
"Either of us? Turk supervision? What the hell is going on?" Genesis pouted, almost scowling.
"Hell if I know. Angeal wouldn't tell me anything that was helpful." The general shrugged.
"So then what brought you into such a horrible state?" Genesis frowned.
"He…well first he stole my phone. Then he said I couldn't have it back when I'm not a cold hearted man who will loose you over a blond cadet." Sephiroth almost whimpered.
Surprised, Genesis pulled away from their embrace with his hands on either side of Sephiroth's face, staring into his eyes. At first, the general didn't meet his commander's gaze. Then Genesis gently raised Sephiroth's chin so that their eyes met.
"Tell me, are you telling the truth? Did Angeal really say that?" Genesis wasn't one to judge others, at least from words. By actions then you've got a commander ready to incinerate anyone who hurt his general into flames.
Sephiroth hesitated. "Yes… Angeal said that. Every word of it."
Anger flashed through the commander's eyes. He could tell, through the general's eyes that Sephiroth was telling the truth. If Sephiroth had lied, his eyes would have broken eye contact.
"Damn him!" Genesis cursed, ready to spring up.
"Genesis, don't. Be reasonable, we were arguing—" Sephiroth gripped onto the commander's arms in an attempt to calm the other down.
"No! I will not be reasonable! Angeal should know to never hurt you like that! And with such a low blow, why should we even consider him as our friend?!" Genesis roared, struggling to free his arms from the viper like grip.
"Genesis, it was only an argument!"
"He hurt you! Child of the Goddess or not, Angeal should face the consequences of hurting you like that!" Genesis continued to struggle.
"Genesis, please, not now. Please, I need you now. Genesis, allow me to spend more time with you. I'll take time off, enough for us to spend more time together. Please, love. Genesis, love." Sephiroth's pleading eyes didn't phase the commander's anger.
"He hurt you! Sephiroth!" Genesis glared back.
Summoning all of his strength, Sephiroth pushed his commander to the floor and harshly met his lips onto the other's. Genesis growled, raising his hands to grab onto the general's hair. The violent kissing turned to one of urgency. Genesis pulled on Sephiroth's hair, somehow keeping the kiss going when he switched their positions. Surprised, Sephiroth struggled to regain dominance, but the commander had straddled his hips and his hands were currently being held.
After a few minutes, Genesis chuckled and pulled away. Sephiroth gasped, panting for the air his lungs so very much needed. It didn't help his breathing with the commander dressed in only tight leather pants, casually grinding their groins together as if it was no big deal. Well, damn it, it was a big deal to Sephiroth who was now suffering the start of a hard on.
"You'd better be careful, even a phoenix could take down a dragon, when given the chance." Genesis smirked. "Now, what were you saying about taking time off?"
"It won't be…immediate, but I'm sure…the director could arrange for us to have time off by next month." Sephiroth gasped out, still in a daze from the kiss.
"So long as we get two weeks off, then I'm happy." Genesis leaned forward to bite the pale neck, earning a groan and Sephiroth's back arching to rub their chests together.
"Are you secretly a sex fiend? No matter how many times we do this, you always crave for more less than an hour later." The general chuckled darkly.
"Hmm…maaaaybe." Genesis purred. "Why don't we just get down to business…in your bedroom? If, that is, you can make it."
Sephiroth sat up when the commander laughed and ran out the door, heading to their shared apartment on Shinra grounds. Growling, the general stumbled to his feet and followed. Sephiroth was planning any possible way of making Genesis suffer through this round.
Cloud sat on his bed, currently staring at the envelope that was for Commander Genesis. He didn't know how the envelope got stuck under the one for Ryu, and the cadet didn't know how he was supposed to give it back to Sephiroth.
I can ask Zack, Cloud thought. But he might open it out of curiosity. So how can I give this to Sephiroth? I could give this to Genesis myself, but he would think I'm being the general's errand boy. I don't want to ruin their relationship between them.
Cloud groaned, lying down. The cadet glanced out the window, taking note that it was dark outside. Hours ago it was dinner, and now it was curfew. Biting his lower lip, Cloud sat up again, glancing at his room mates.
They were all asleep, and content to stay that way all night. Sighing, Cloud stood up and silently walked out. The cadet tip toed down the hallway, careful to avoid any trash cans. When he reached the door to the roof, Cloud carefully opened the door and stepped out.
Now suppose you were alone, and all you wanted to do was to think peacefully under the stars. That was exactly how Cloud pictured himself doing the moment he would sit down and stare at the stars above. The cadet didn't expect to find someone else there as well. When he turned around from closing the door, he nearly had a heart attack.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were out here, and I assumed that no one came up here. Um, I'll go back to my room now." Cloud blushed, ready to turn and reopen the door.
"No, no. You may stay. I wouldn't mind having company this evening." The velvety voice assured.
Cloud bit his lower lip, glancing at the commander. "Um, I don't mean to impose…"
"Aw, poor cadet. Like I said, I wouldn't mind having company. It gets rather lonely up here sometimes." Genesis smiled.
Nervously, the blond stepped closer, still blushing as he remembered their encounter in Midgar. The commander tilted his head, wondering where the blush came from.
"No need to be embarrassed, little one, I mean no harm of telling anyone of this accidental meeting. I tell you, I'm good with keeping secrets." Genesis tried to reassure the blond.
"I, thank you, sir, I just didn't expect to see someone like you up here." Cloud nervously stood next to the sitting commander.
"Oh, me? I just love to stay up here. This is the spot where I first fell in love with Sephiroth. We used to stay up here together and watch the moon." Genesis explained casually.
"Really? Then where is he now, sir?"
"You don't have to call me sir, cadet. And to answer your question, he's in his office working." The commander made a face.
"Oh, I apologize for making you unhappy." Cloud averted his gaze, trying not to stare at the handsome man.
"Come here little one. Why aren't you looking at me directly? Am I really that horrible to look at?" Genesis pouted, tilting his head.
"No! I mean, you're really attractive, wait, I mean it has nothing to do with the way you look. I'm just…embarrassed from our previous encounter, sir." Cloud stuttered the mixed up words.
"We've met before?" the commander blinked.
"Yes, in Midgar, not too long ago actually. You were, I'm sorry if I dishonor you, sir, but you were drunk when we met. You tried to sit down by the fountain, and you almost fell. I, um, managed to stop you from falling, and then you, well…" Cloud looked away, now blushing deeper.
Genesis stared, thinking back to that night. Did he really meet the blond cadet that night? But the blush on the cadet told it all, and the commander immediately hoped he didn't traumatize the young cadet. It was enough that Genesis had dreams of the cute blond, he didn't want to ruin his chance with Cloud.
"I didn't molest you, did I?" Genesis frowned.
"No, sir." Cloud shook his head.
The commander sighed. "Good, I wouldn't forgive myself if I did such a thing to someone like you, little one."
The cadet just nodded, the blush still clear on his cheeks.
"So, what did I do? All I remember is sitting there in the fountain trying to think on what happened." Genesis asked.
"I…we, well, sir, we almost kissed." Cloud turned away in embarrassment.
"I see… Is that why I was in the fountain?" the commander tilted his head.
"Y-yea…" Cloud almost had another heart attack.
"What's your name again?"
"Cloud…Cloud Strife, sir." The cadet said.
"Cloud, what you said before, that I was attractive, did you really mean it?" Genesis leaned closer, almost pouting.
The blond bit his lower lip, unsure just how to answer. He wanted to say yes, but Cloud was scared where that would lead. If he said no, Cloud may never forgive himself. Anxiously, the blond glanced back at the commander. When their eyes met, Cloud forgot to breathe for a moment.
"Y-yes, sir. I did mean it… I don't mean to interfere with your relationship. Um, here. By accident this was underneath the letter for my room mate Sephiroth wrote to." Cloud stood up, searching his pockets until he found the letter.
Genesis took it, reading his name on it in the moonlight. The handwriting he recognized instantly, it was Sephiroth's perfect calligraphic style. The way the G was almost a perfect circle, and the end of the R made a curve under the rest of his last name gave it away.
"Why thank you Clo—"
The commander looked up, Cloud was already gone.
"Aw, but now I don't know how to thank him." Genesis pouted, staring at the letter.
"Hm...I wonder what this is for, I'll ask Seph tomorrow." the commander stood up, storing the envelope in his pocket.
Cloud held a hand over his chest, his heart pounded so fast he was sure he actually did have a heart attack. But surely he was too young, and he kept a healthy diet. So as long the cadet didn't have too much stress, then he won't have one. Cloud guessed this was what love felt like, when you confessed something to the person you had a crush on.
Quietly, Cloud tip toed down the hallway and to his dorm room. Making as less noise as possible, the blond cadet made his way to his bed and climbed in. Only to find another body in his bed. Holding back his scream, Cloud sat up quickly and just about scooted to the edge of the bed, nearly falling over.
"It's me, Cloud, what ever you do, don't fall or scream." Brandon whispered.
"Brandon! What are you doing?" Cloud scooted forward, away from the edge.
"I woke up, and you weren't here! What were you doing? Hm? Not sneaking around were you?" the brunette questioned in a low tone so as to not awake the others.
Cloud thought for a moment. "I uh, was going to the bathroom."
"Yea right, you were gone longer than the bathroom." Brandon retorted.
"Well what do you want me to say?" Cloud glared.
"Tell me where you were, and who you were with." The brunette crossed his arms.
"I was just on the roof, all right? And I was with no one. So there, you got my story. Now can you please get out of my bed?" Cloud grunted, just about ready to push Brandon off the bed.
"Then why are you blushing?" the other cadet whispered.
Cloud couldn't find an answer. Brandon raised an eyebrow, patiently waiting. With a heavy sigh, the blond pushed the brunette in an attempt to get him off his bed. Brandon did fall off, but pulled Cloud along with him to the floor.
The two yelped when they fell, and another scream followed afterwards. But Ryu's cry was ignored by the two cadets, as they started to wrestle each other on the floor. Kyle, with a loud grumble, turned on the light next to his bed and sat up rubbing his eyes before staring at the wrestling cadets with a blank expression. When he realized what was going on, the big cadet's expression turned cold and angry.
"Oi! No fighting when we're tryin' ta get some decent sleep 'ere!" Kyle stood up, ready to split the two shorter cadets.
"Why are you so protective of me anyway? You're not my boyfriend or anything!" Cloud demanded, ignoring the biggest cadet.
"I don't want to wake up and find out that you died because you snuck away to see someone dangerous at night! Do you have any idea how many people in Shinra, SOLDIERS and Turks alike, want to take you? Haven't you noticed the stares!?" Brandon roared, trying to pin the blond cadet to the floor.
"Hey! I said stop fighting!" Kyle stomped his way towards them, popping his knuckles.
"I'm glad you're so worried, but really, I can take care of myself!" Cloud argued, kicking Brandon in the stomach.
"You're still a cadet!" Brandon shouted.
"Stop it you two!" Kyle grumbled, one hand grabbing either cadet's backs and tried to pull them apart. But the two were locked onto each other with the use of their arms, only their legs moved to attack each other.
"Damn it! Ryu, you grab one of 'em and we'll separate 'em." Kyle ordered, still keeping a hold on the two bickering cadets.
Ryu reluctantly stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Cloud's chest and pulled. Kyle let go of the blond cadet, and now used both hands to drag Brandon away and back to their side of the dorm. By now the two cadets were shouting, not caring for their neighbors in the hallway.
Although Ryu claimed to never be very strong, he still managed to hold onto Cloud. But from Kyle's point of view, the positioning was awkward to say the least. Ryu held his arms around the blonde's chest from behind. While at the same time the darker cadet's legs were wrapped around Cloud's waist, preventing the blond much movement.
The door opened, revealing a few Shinra guards followed by none other than Commander Genesis. Cloud glanced away, hiding his blush. Ryu hid his own embarrassment by hiding his face behind the blonde's shoulder. Kyle saluted, while keeping one hand on Brandon's shirt to prevent him from going anywhere. The brunette grumbled something under his breath, before saluting the commander as well.
"What's all the commotion? I was doing my regular rounds of making sure everyone had turned in for their curfew, and I find a battlefield going on in here." Genesis glanced at the cadets in slight disgust.
Or that was until the commander's eyes found Cloud, in a very awkward position to be found in. Genesis wished he had a camera, he was sure that Sephiroth would have loved to see this. But for now, the commander would have to refrain from laughing out loud. From the blush on Cloud's cheeks, he was embarrassed enough right now.
"So, what's going on?" Genesis demanded again, his voice a little calmer this time.
"We just had some bad argument, sir. Cadet Fuji and I will take care of it, if you don't mind, sir." Kyle spoke up.
"All right, be sure that you do. I'll take my leave. Guards, you're dismissed." Genesis ordered them, and they left with a hint of a scowl on their faces.
"Cadets, if this happens again, I'll personally separate you into rooms with the lesser cadets, who have been known to cause more mayhem than you. Do I make myself clear?" the commander reminded them of his position.
"Yes, sir." All of the cadets in the room said.
"Good. I'll take my leave. Have a good evening, cadets." Genesis smirked when he took one last glance at Cloud and Ryu, and walked out.
Kyle and Brandon sighed, relieved. The two took a glance at the shyer of their room mates, blinking when they both fainted at the same time. With a groan, Kyle let go of the brunette and made his way to the other two. Carefully the big cadet picked them up, and carried them to Cloud's bed. Kyle didn't care to separate them; Ryu had a death grip on the blond cadet.
"You think that's a good idea?" Brandon raised an eyebrow.
"They can bitch about it in the mornin'. Right now, I need meh beauty sleep." Kyle grumbled, turning off the light and climbed into bed.
Brandon shook his head when he heard the big cadet's snore.
Shado: Well, there ya go! Sorry if it seems a bit short or something. It was really four pages long on Micorsoft Word.
And, yes, Cloud and Ryu fainted. HAHAHA!!! This chap was just so serious, I had to throw in a bit of a comic relief. I don't want my reviewers so sad after what happened in the last chap.
So, what's gonna happen to Angeal and Zack? What about Cloud and his room mates? You'll find out in the next chap if ya review!
Review plz!
