Title: A Twisted Kind of Honour
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud, Zack/Aeris (some S/C/Z)
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Warning: BRITISH SPELLING! Allusions to rape. M/M scenes. Terrorism. Graphic sex.
Chapter: 10/20
Comments: Officially half way through the story now! Yay! This chapter has a sex scene in it which isn't 'new' as such, as it was posted to my journal about 6 months ago, but is still new in context! Also, special thanks to IA1979, whose kind reviews encouraged me to update this faster. Also, through my LJ you can see what I listen to when I write Twisted.

Chapter Ten:

Pressure

Sephiroth dutifully slid all his clothes to one side in his wardrobe and Cloud stepped around him to start hanging up clothes. Sephiroth watched as his wardrobe filled up. It was actually quite startling to see the difference between his side of the wardrobe, which was mostly black, and the other colours on Cloud's side of the wardrobe. He couldn't help but smile a little as he ran his fingers down the rough material of one of Cloud's cheap shirts.

"Stop being sentimental and help," Cloud said as he dumped another box of trinkets onto the bed. Sephiroth smiled and wrapped his arms around Cloud's waist.

"This is my first official day off in my career and you're going to make me carry boxes?" Sephiroth asked. Cloud looked up at him.

"You have enhanced strength and can carry these boxes far easier than I can. Go help Zack," Cloud said, removing his arms from around his waist and opening the box. Sephiroth knew pulling rank wouldn't be a wise move with how stressed Cloud was feeling at the moment so he did as he was told.

Cloud hadn't moved his furniture from his flat, and had left some of his clothes and personal belongings there. Most of it was moving into Sephiroth's flat though, and Zack had managed to fill most of the hire car they were using with bits and pieces.

"I've been sent to help," Sephiroth said. Zack grinned at him.

"You've been kicked out haven't you? You'll go upstairs and he'll have rearranged everything," he teased. Sephiroth just shrugged. It wasn't like he was emotionally attached to where his furniture was.

"You know, it's still a little weird to have Cloud living with you, y'know. And it must be a great risk for him," Zack said, handing a box over to Sephiroth. The General flashed him a warning look and Zack shut his mouth quickly. The terrorist attack had happened, just as Cloud had reported it would, but luckily Sephiroth had managed to pull off a small miracle and have SOLDIERs disguised as average employees. There hadn't been a single fatality in the blast, but AVALANCHE had appeared appeased.

Cloud hadn't mentioned if he'd had contact with them, and Sephiroth didn't want to pry, trusting Cloud to reveal anything important. For most couples it would have been strange not to be able to talk about their jobs, but for Sephiroth, who had always been dealing with classified files, it was second nature, and Cloud was private enough that it didn't matter to him.

"Have you spoken to Cloud about... y'know...?" Zack pressed, handing Sephiroth a box full of what appeared to be gun maintenance manuals. Sephiroth shook his head as he scanned over the book titles.

"There just hasn't been the right moment and I don't want him to think that I asked him to move in so I could have my wicked way with him," Sephiroth pointed out. Zack laughed at that.

"'Wicked way' Seph? Who speaks that way anymore? Well, apart from Rufus Shinra..." Zack seemed to drift into some kid of fantasy at that point and Sephiroth knew better than to disturb him while he was going over whatever daydream was in his head.

Sephiroth continued to ferry boxes up to the apartment until they were gone. After that he and Zack were unceremoniously kicked out while Cloud 'tidied up', whatever that meant when everything was in boxes. Zack had immediately suggested a local bar and Sephiroth couldn't deny that cold beer definitely seemed like a good idea if he was going to go home and find Cloud as stressed out as he had been earlier that day.

They walked into the smoky bar and Sephiroth went to find a table, not wanting to have to bother with being recognised at the bar. He found a quiet corner in the and sat in the dark, staring down at the dirty table. He guessed he was a little dejected that Cloud hadn't really taken to the idea as well as Sephiroth had hoped. Cloud seemed to be getting more and more distant as the day came and now seemed to want Sephiroth completely out of the way.

Sephiroth really wondered what Cloud was going to make of the fact that he hadn't made up the guest bed and had expected them to be sleeping together. He held no illusions that would cause an argument when he got home as Cloud tried to find where Sephiroth kept the spare linen and Sephiroth stubbornly remained silent.

"Here ya go," Zack said. Sephiroth had been expecting a few bottles, but Zack had brought over three pitchers of beer. Sephiroth regarded them sceptically.

"I don't get drunk Zack," he pointed out. It was one of Sephiroth's rules he held for himself. Drunkenness led to impaired judgement and slower reflexes, something that Sephiroth felt would not be beneficial to his standing in the company if it was splashed all over the front of Midgar Mail.

"Just drink as much as you want," Zack said cheerfully as he poured the beer into glasses and handed one to Sephiroth. He took it reservedly, the leather of his gloves cooling around the glass.

"Cheers!" Zack said brightly and took a long drink of the beer. Sephiroth looked at the glass in his hand and sighed, downing his own as well.

*

Cloud sighed in relief when Sephiroth left without any fuss. He needed time to get used to everything. He began to slowly sort through his boxes, finding places in Sephiroth's minimalist apartment to put things. When it came to his books he began to struggle, as Sephiroth didn't have a bookcase. He decided that for now he'd have to leave them in stacks on the floor. The effect wasn't as bad as Cloud had expected, though far from neat, it didn't look too bad. Just lived in. Something Sephiroth's apartment had definitely been lacking before.

Cloud then began to snoop around the rooms. He found the guest bedroom easily, noting it would be perfect for when Zack got too drunk to go home and also contained a small closet where Cloud could squirrel away some of his own weaponry that wouldn't fit within Sephiroth's safe.

Sephiroth's bedroom was disappointingly normal. If Cloud had been hoping to find some embarrassing teenage love letters, he was disappointed. After some snooping all Cloud found that was mildly embarrassing was a box of condoms in the drawer, with a gift tag still attached to them that said "Happy 16th Birthday Sephiroth! Now you're finally legal! From Genesis". They were now well beyond their effective use date.

Cloud began to prepare dinner. He had already planned to tell Zack to get lost when the two got back from wherever they'd gone. He intended to spend the evening getting used to living with Sephiroth on his own, without outside interference. It was absolutely terrifying to think about, but Cloud knew he had to get used to it. If he was honest, he knew that this was the first step into becoming 'normal' again, and he had to take the opportunity with both hands.

He glanced at the recipe. He was making pasta, which would be relatively simple but also pleasantly romantic. He began to stir the wine into the bolognese sauce as instructed and jumped a little when his phone went off. He glanced at the phone and saw that it was a withheld number.

He snatched it up, stirring the mince still. "Strife here."

"It's Shears. We need you to meet us tonight," the man said abruptly. Cloud looked at the food in front of him.

"Does it have to be tonight? I have plans," Cloud replied, trying to sound nonchalant. In fact he was terrified that AVALANCHE might realise that he really didn't want to venture into their lair without adequate time to prepare the right state of mind.

"It has to be tonight. We need some information before we launch our next attack," Shears said. Cloud sighed.

"I really don't have any news to give you that you don't already know-"

"Be there, Strife, or AVALANCHE are going to be bombing your pansy ass next," Shears said before hanging up. Cloud sighed and stared down at the phone before putting it on the worktop. He turned the heat down low and left a note for Sephiroth explaining he had to go out and didn't know when he'd be back.

He then threw on some slum clothes and left the building to go below Plate.

*

Sephiroth had drunk quite a lot. They had both had a pitcher each and the third one, well, most of it was going all over the table as opposed to in their glasses. Sephiroth took another sip of beer.

"Seriously, you just gotta talk about things, y'know?" Zack slurred, slumping against Sephiroth. "Cuz if you don't talk nothing changes!"

Sephiroth nodded, as though he'd heard a great piece of wisdom. "I just don't know how to talk about it I guess."

"Just tell him what you wanna do. He'll probably want to do it too. If not he'll just say no and that'll be that," Zack pointed out. "Can't be cel-celibra-celibrat- Can't go without sex forever." Zack was swaying now where he sat. Sephiroth pretended not to notice the slurring.

"You're right. Cloud wouldn't have agreed to move in with me if he didn't want us to be together..." Sephiroth said, drinking more beer. "Which means I should probably get home and get talking to him."

"One more beer?" Zack pressed. Sephiroth looked at the pitcher, which was somehow empty.

"One more beer."

*

Cloud stepped into the Honey Bee Inn and felt a chill go down his spine. Sleazy men pawed at women in the corners and dead-eyed women with hardly any clothes on moved from party to party, their beaded thongs catching the red light obscenely.

Cloud took a few more steps forward, trying to see anyone who was out of place enough to be AVALANCHE in here. He did catch a few people's eyes, but he had to look away quickly so that they didn't think he after something. After wandering around aimlessly for a few moments he was eventually approached by a woman wearing a slightly less revealing bumblebee outfit.

"Are you looking for a party, sir?" she asked. Cloud buried his face in his scarf.

"I'm looking for a man named Shears. Is he here?" he asked. The woman's mouth turned down and she sighed.

"His party are always in the red room," she said, gesturing for Cloud to move into the corridor. "They aren't very good customers to be honest. Never leave a tip."

"They use the services here?" Cloud questioned, his skin crawling as he thought about what they might be doing in the 'red room'. They paused outside a door that read "&$#% Room".

"This is the red room," the woman said, gesturing to the sign. Cloud sighed and glanced at it, not sure how that said 'red' in any stretch of the imagination.

"And if you must know, there's only one in the party who uses our services. That's Elfé," she winked and then opened the door. Cloud stepped into the room slightly bemused. Sure enough, AVALANCHE weren't engaging in any lewd sex acts within the room, but were instead using the bed as a table with various bits of paper scattered across it.

"You made it then," Shears commented without turning. Cloud forced himself into a calm state so he wouldn't rise to it.

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world," he managed to drawl effectively.

"Whatever mountain boy. Get your ass down here. I need your expertise on whether or not these plans are correct," Shears said, gesturing to the space next to him. Cloud carefully sandwiched himself between Shears and another member, trying to ignore the shiver of disgust that went through him when the two leaned forward and cut even further into his personal space.

"This is a reactor plan," Cloud stated, frowning slightly. It didn't say which reactor it was, but they were all laid out pretty much the same. Cloud leaned forward, looking for any architectural differences which would allow him to figure out which sector it was meant to be.

"Yeah. We decided to go straight for the throat. If we destroy the reactors, Shinra will have to spend their time repairing them and that'll give us time to plan more attacks," Shears explained. Cloud looked dubious.

"I can just see Shinra leaving it and letting the Slums people starve without power, rerouteing the mako to the above Plate properties from other reactors," he replied honestly. It wasn't like Shinra would care about the Slums. "You'd have to attack two or three reactors to really bother Shinra."

Cloud could see a few of the other members of AVALANCHE looking at each other. They didn't seem to know whether to rely on his intelligence or immediately question it.

"Any plans you put in place for this one, with plenty of manpower could be applied to any reactor in the world," Cloud continued, undaunted. "All reactors are the same." Also, when reactors exploded they tended not to take out so many civilians, compared to AVALANCHE's other explosions.

"But not all have the escape routes available to make them viable," Shears put forward. Cloud had to concede that.

"If you're going to bomb a reactor, you'd be best of starting with one in the middle of nowhere than one in Midgar. The ones in Midgar are so well protected by SOLDIER that you won't get anywhere near them," Cloud said, pulling the map towards him so he could see where they planned to put the bombs. He frowned. They planned to plant it in the middle of the reactor?

"Do you have any idea what kind of carnage that kind of bomb will create?" Cloud demanded, looking at the specification for the bomb they were building. "Combined with the amount of mako you're setting free into the environment you'd wipe out the equivalent of an entire Sector! You need to half the amount of explosive at least-"

"Where does your expertise come from, Mr. Strife?"

Cloud turned around to see Elfé, dressed much more simply than usual in a pair of khaki shorts and a tank top. He did notice she'd gone braless though, and his eyes were drawn to her nipples as they extended through the top. He felt Shears squirm a little next to him and knew that he'd noticed as well. Cloud smirked evilly and made room for her between himself and Shears.

"You think I'd come from an army background without some knowledge of explosives?" he asked. Elfé knelt down beside him and leaned forward to pull the plans closer to her. Cloud got a clearer view of her chest as she did so, though she seemed oblivious to the sudden perverted nature of the men in the room.

"These plans will be put on hold. We don't have the man power at the moment to spare. Our main concern should be the capture and detainment of SOLDIERs in order to test more of the Ravens. Fuhito is close to creating a Raven that retains it's mind and I want to test them against someone. That's where your intelligence comes in, Strife, I need to know where I'm going to find some inebriated SOLDIERs who might be able to be captured," Elfé said, rolling up the plans and wrapping an elastic band around them. Cloud bit his lip. He couldn't place SOLDIERs at risk like that... He needed a distraction.

He leaned a little towards Elfé. "I don't think this is the right time to plan an attack against SOLDIER, Elfé," he said in a voice that was quieter than his normal speaking one. She leaned in towards him, trying to hear what he was saying.

"Why?" she demanded, eyes bright and demanding. Cloud didn't think she was aware of how close she was getting to him and Shears was starting to look alarmed. Cloud was quick enough to hook his hand behind her neck and bring his other up to touch her cheek before she could pull away.

"Because your face is too pretty to be scarred by SOLDIERs on the warpath," he said, trying his best to put on the 'tough guy' act. It seemed to work, though he was slightly concerned by the way that Elfé's pupils seemed to dilate in lust.

"Get off her Strife!" Shears threatened. Cloud laughed and let go of her.

"It's too soon to attack Shinra directly like that. And definitely not SOLDIER. You need to start thinking with some kind of self-preservation," Cloud said flatly. Elfé snarled at Cloud, though he detected something else in her behaviour, something that was far from anger.

"If you don't mind, I'll leave now," Cloud said, getting to his feet. A few members of AVALANCHE rose to their feet as well, obviously thinking of taking him outside and giving him a good hiding.

"No. Leave him," Elfé ordered. The men obediently sat down, though their glares still followed Cloud towards the door.

"Take my advice on board and allow things to cool down before your next attack," Cloud warned. "Otherwise SOLDIER will get to you."

*

Cloud returned home and the first thing he smelled was vomit. He turned frowned, taking a few steps into the lounge. Zack and Sephiroth were collapsed on the sofa, and a quick look into the bathroom showed that whoever had been sick had been unable to find the toilet in time and had found the sink instead.

Taking a few steps forward, concerned that the two might be truly in need of medical help, Cloud reached out to touch Sephiroth's forehead gently. Green eyes flew open and then immediately went slightly out of focus. The sickly sweet scent of alcohol came to Cloud's senses and he immediately pulled back.

"I can't believe this," he said, putting his head in his hands. "Zack wake up!"

"He was sick. He needs sleep," Sephiroth said, his voice slightly slurred. Cloud's eyes narrowed angrily and he grabbed the front of Zack's uniform, pulling him off the couch so that he fell onto the floor.

"Get up!" Cloud snapped, watching as Zack struggled to sit up. "Why do you two spoil everything?!" He backed up when he saw Sephiroth's eyes narrow angrily and felt a cold sweat go down his back.

He's more powerful than you. His judgement is going to be skewed by the drink and you're shouting at him. He could do whatever he wanted to you Strife, and now you have no bolt hole. What are you going to do, hm? Was your evening going to be so romantic that it's worth getting raped by two angry SOLDIERs over?

"'m sorry, Cloud... We was jus' celebrating," Zack slurred as he tried to get to his feet and fell over, starting to giggle to himself. Cloud backed away, his breathing becoming more and more laboured.

"Zack, get into the spare room and sleep it off," Cloud managed to force out. Zack nodded and promptly fell over again, deciding to crawl towards the bedroom instead. Cloud waited until he'd left before turning to Sephiroth.

"What's wrong?" Sephiroth asked, standing up. Even drunk the man retained his balance and swiftness and Cloud began to back away in the direction of the master bedroom.

"Don't come near me!" he found himself screaming. Sephiroth frowned, staying where he stood.

Cloud bolted, slamming the bedroom door behind him and shoving a chair under the door handle to stop Sephiroth getting in. He huddled into the bed with a shudder and began to cry.

*

Sephiroth awoke the next morning feeling like his head had been placed in the oven. His mouth was disgustingly dry, his eyes hurt whenever light shone into them, and his limbs felt sluggish. He went to the fridge, immediately drinking the two pints of milk he found there. A few moments later it was coming up into the toilet bowl. Sephiroth glanced at his sink mournfully, noticing that there was still Zack's vomit from the night before left there. He washed his face in the bath instead, splashing cold water against his cheek and swilling his mouth out before going to sit on the sofa.

A few minutes later Zack dragged himself down the hall, his eyes blood-shot and his voice sounding hoarse.

"I didn't imagine Cloud coming home angry and sending me to bed, did I?" Zack asked, pouring himself a glass of water, downing it and before pouring himself another.

"I don't think so," Sephiroth replied dryly. "Is this what a hangover feels like?"

"Like what?" Zack asked, sitting down and handing another glass over water to Sephiroth.

"Like a car alarm is going off behind my eyes," Sephiroth replied. Zack chuckled.

"Yeah, that sounds about right..." he replied, before his good humour bled away. "Cloud was really pissed off last night..."

"No, he was frightened," Sephiroth disagreed quietly. Zack blinked, turning to Sephiroth with an astonished look on his face.

"We're two very powerful men who, with plenty of alcohol in us, probably reminded him of something he'd rather not think about," Sephiroth continued, refusing to look at Zack. "We fucked up."

"I never thought I'd hear you say something like that," Zack said softly. Sephiroth shrugged.

"From now on I think I'm going to be saying it a lot-"

"Good morning," Cloud greeted them both coldly. He was fully dressed and his eyes had large bags under them. It was clear he hadn't slept. His gloves were back on his hands and he had a scarf hung around his neck. Sephiroth couldn't remember the last time Cloud had worn gloves in his presence.

"I expect you to clean the bathroom Zack. It's disgusting," Cloud said curtly as he walked to the door to collect the mail, not even looking at it before he threw it onto the coffee table. "And change the bed sheets in the guest room."

Zack seemed not to know what to say. He just nodded dumbly, his eyes turning towards the bathroom with trepidation. Sephiroth waited for Cloud to say something to him, but he didn't, shutting him out.

"Cloud-"

"I don't want to talk to you. Although you can throw away last night's dinner that I prepared. It'll be congealed by now," the venom in Cloud's voice cut through anything Sephiroth had been about to say. Sephiroth sighed.

"I need to talk to you-"

"And I don't want to hear it. I'll be back late tonight. Don't wait up-"

"Cloud, just listen to me-"

"I'm not yours to order around in here, sir."

*

Sephiroth considered how he was supposed to broach this subject after Cloud's complete denial to speak with him earlier. Rolling over in bed and just starting to talk took more courage than he had. This was saying something as Sephiroth had gone into battle against entire armies with the odds stacked against him without so much of a twinge of nerves. Still, in light of their fight it seemed too out of place to just randomly start a conversation… Cloud's pyjama clothed back was like an impenetrable barrier.

But Sephiroth knew he had to do something. They couldn't continue like this. As much as Sephiroth wanted to believe that he and Cloud loved each other enough to get through everything, Cloud's reactions were proving that love alone couldn't keep them together. They both needed that physical connection – Sephiroth to feel like he had Cloud's full attention and Cloud to start to heal properly.

"Cloud…" he began. He saw the blond's shoulders tense and tried not to wince before rolling onto his side and spooning against his back. Cloud relaxed a little, obviously expecting that Sephiroth was backing down… The General guessed this could be seen that way even putting his plan into motion…

"I just want you to listen. You don't have to say or do anything. You don't even have to do the things I'm suggesting but… I want you to know what I'm thinking…" Lines all copied parrot fashion from Zack's advice earlier but still well meant. Cloud didn't know that Sephiroth needed to borrow words from other people, even if Sephiroth felt a bit like a fake at that moment.

He moved so his mouth was near Cloud's ear, not wanting to say any of it too loudly, slightly embarrassed by what he was about to say.

"I need you to know that I desire you…" Sephiroth began, keeping his voice low and as soft as possible. No need to spook Cloud into thinking it was an order. The blond lay stiff and unresponsive in his arms, but Sephiroth had expected that. Zack's advice came back to mind. He shouldn't be deterred by a lack of response. Cloud was shocked that Sephiroth was approaching him like this, but if he truly wanted Sephiroth to stop, he'd say so.

"I want to be able to touch you, Cloud," he admitted, remembering to use Cloud's name to make it more intimate. "To run my hands over your chest, ribs, stomach, thighs, scars and all... Everywhere… I know your skin must feel so soft…" Sephiroth closed his eyes, only able to imagine what it must feel like, petal soft against his fingertips that were made sensitive by the gloves he always wore.

"I want to bring you pleasure that makes you to gasp and beg…" Sephiroth continued. "To get you hard and dripping in my hands and mouth and know that you're thinking of no one but me…"

He heard Cloud gasp and wondered if he should stop. Zack had told him to tell Cloud everything though. That no surprises or secrets were a good thing, particularly in the current kind of situation.

"I want to be inside you… I want the tight walls of your insides to grip my cock like you don't want to let it go. I want to stroke you to orgasm from the inside and for you to love every second of it…"

Cloud moved then and Sephiroth got ready to pull away, certain that Cloud was going to yell at him and call him perverted and curse him like the Wutaians that had raped him.

But Cloud didn't. Sephiroth stared as Cloud's hands moved towards his own crotch, stroking himself through the fabric with a whimper.

*

Cloud couldn't help it. He felt embarrassed, in a vague way, that he'd got hard while Sephiroth murmured all those things to him but Sephiroth was right. They should be able to do those things and, if that was all true, Sephiroth wouldn't care if Cloud sprouted a stiffy talking about it.

He continued to stroke himself through the fabric of his pyjamas. The friction was enough to make him start to leak and the tightness in his stomach increased when Sephiroth moved back to spooning against him.

The other still didn't touch him though. Cloud found he was grateful. Sephiroth understood that this was as far as Cloud could be pushed. For now.

He began to grow frustrated with his pyjamas being in the way and he pulled them down a little at the front, allowing his cock to spring free. He heard Sephiroth gasp and when he readjusted his position Cloud felt the man's cock pressing up against his backside. Sephiroth didn't push up against him though, even though he must have wanted to. Cloud didn't know what to do either so he kept himself still, his hand still stroking himself.

He could picture all the things Sephiroth had talked about. The fantasies of his cadet days rising in his thoughts and burning into his mind. An erotic picture of him cradled in Sephiroth's arms, bodies rocking together, Sephiroth's hair tangled between their limbs as they moved faster and faster, trying to reach climax together…

Cloud turned onto his back, knowing it would be easier to cum all over his pyjama top than to have to change the sheets. He kept his eyes closed, at first too embarrassed by what he was doing to open them. Then he grew anxious. Was Sephiroth watching? What did he look like?

Cloud opened his eyes a little, slits of deep blue peeking between his fair eyelashes. He'd expected Sephiroth would be watching his hand on his cock, but he wasn't. Glittering emerald eyes, pupils dilated with desire, were watching his face. When he saw Cloud's eyes open he smiled, a simple smile that made Cloud's heart ache to see.

Sephiroth's eyes did wander, Cloud realized, but they always returned to his face.

"Kiss me," Cloud asked, feeling himself getting close. He closed his eyes as Sephiroth leaned in.

The first brush of lips were light and soft. Cloud felt a whisper of a moan pass through his lips before Sephiroth's mouth covered his fully. He was surprised when Sephiroth's wet tongue slid into his mouth, but he found the electric jolt going through his stomach in response to the all too addictive feeling. He groaned, finally pushed over the edge, imagining his cock in Sephiroth's mouth when the man sucked gently on his tongue. He felt hot cum shoot out of the swollen slit and over his fist, onto the soft cotton of his shirt.

Sephiroth drew back shortly, saliva stretching between their mouths as he did so. Cloud could feel the totally unromantic feeling of saliva cold around his mouth and cum cooling against his chest. They stared at each other for a long moment though.

"I have cum in my hair…" Sephiroth said finally, pulling on the strands where a blob of white had clogged the silver strands together.

Cloud began to laugh. He couldn't help himself. Sephiroth gave him a look before chuckling himself. He wiped his hair against Cloud's pyjamas before leaning back.

Cloud began to feel the dampness more uncomfortably now, permeating the fabric. He shrugged off the top and paused. Usually he would put another one on immediately, hiding his scars from view and snuggle under the covers. But… he'd just jerked off in front of Sephiroth… Sleeping without a top wasn't so bad, was it?

He lay back down and Sephiroth curled up against him. Cloud wondered if the man was still erect but he didn't dare feel. He wasn't sure he could do that yet. Sephiroth didn't seem to mind though, curling up against him and breathing deeply.

"Let's make this work, Seph…" Cloud whispered. "Mm…" Sephiroth replied and Cloud knew he was already asleep.