Title: Loving Corpses
Summary: Everyone knows what Cloud is, and they put it to good use. He just wishes that a night of passion didn't always have to be rewarded with waking to another dead lover.
Warnings: boy/boy, dark themes
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say it? Not mine.
Sephiroth can't understand it. Not so much that it's complicated, he could comprehend that his youngest lover had left. And quite a while ago, if the temperature of the bed were anything to go by. But why? Why was he always left alone? Maybe the young ravenet should promise not to leave, instead... He soothes his forehead with the back of his hand, hoping the peace offering would pacify the war behind his eyes. Unfortunately, the fire in his skull refused to be so easily asphyxiated. He wanders down the stairs, half dressed and fully aloof to that fact. By the end of the descent, he finds the only other First -with his head on the table, lightly drooling and much more than lightly intoxicated. "Zack." The youth stirs, but doesn't wake, nestling further into folded arms. He decides that inebriated company is better than no company, he gently rocks the SOLDIER. A bit of unintelligible -at least on Zack's end- and Sephiroth helps him maneuver to the ebony-haired youth's bed, the aforementioned boy whining for him to stay in such a way that he forgets ibuprofen all together.
Now they can both have migraines come time for work...
"Are you sure this is okay? I could just get Angeal down here, he wouldn't mind," Cloud offers, dirt dusting his exposed skin in a way that might have been adorable if not for the task at hand.
"I've done much worse in the ranks of the Turks, child. This is fine," the gunner replies.
"I don't know why you think I'm a child. After all, I enlisted in the military already; that's basically coming of age where I'm from."
"I'm over three times you're age. You might as well be a toddler to me."
"Yeah, well compared to some of your dark companions, you may as well be a fetus," the incubus jests.
The elder man looks up, an almost-smirk touching the corners of his mouth, conveying the message: 'You shouldn't have gone there.' "And what -pray tell- would they see you as? A sperm cell?"
The blond moves a hand from his shovel in a gesture of defeat. "Hey, at least I got the fun part," he shrugs.
They take a moment to stare, the first real smile Cloud has seen from the other man showing. Vincent honestly enjoys the youth's company. Perhaps from the pheromones, the attributes, or the most likely fact that they simply had the right personalities to get along well -the keeper doesn't mind. The moment stretches...and stretches...and stretches until it's much longer than the appropriate time to be reveling in a simple happy moment between friends. It stretches a little further until the carmen-clad keeper realizes this fact, clearing his throat and turning away. The imp rolls his eyes skyward, an endearing smile for his embarrassed partner. "Have you thought about it anymore?" he asks, effectively changing the topic out of mercy for the other. "About Chaos, I mean."
The crimson gunman bestows his tongue to the feline, answering with a few beats of silence. He finally gives a verbal answer, but enunciates it so blended and quiet even the teen's enhanced hearing can't pick it up.
"What was that?"
The tenebrous Demi takes a breath, a deep breath, as if preparing for a strenuous task. "I think I care for him," he says, more clearly this time.
"You think? I guess you haven't thought about it enough, yet."
"...I do care for him; I'm just not sure if that's due to me caring for him, or my knowing he cares for me. I doubt that was any help to your enlightenment."
"No, that makes a lot of sense, actually. Caring for someone because they care for you... I've never thought of that, before."
Guileless with words,
Yours are futile to help me;
I shan't understand
Demons don't love men
Did the rules suddenly change?
What does it all mean?
It's so confusing
Many possibilities;
Why are your eyes here?
What captivates you?
I'm cert'nly not appealing,
Not to the devils
Why present this curse,
Dressed as a gift, a blessing,
New sin to repent?
What is this shock wave?
Two thousand volts to my head,
My body, and heart
It all aches for love
Now it's here, can I have it?
Is it truly love?
Humans; so complex
Spend their lives yearning for love
Yet reject my own
Why torture me so?
Could mine be inferior?
How is it different?
I can understand
I can solve the equation
I stole your text book
I studied all night
I listened to the lectures
And showed up for class
Never missed a day
Not for you, my sweet, my dear,
Beautiful Vincent
I know the terms,
I took the tests and passed them,
Was that not enough?
I worked hard for you,
I wrote an exposition
All for you to see...
[See what?]
How much I love you
Had I a soul, I'd sell it
To be part of you
[Aren't you now?]
To be close to you,
One with you, to know your love,
Show you affection
Demons can love, too
Can love pure, and deep, and true
S'long as you teach us
[Teach you?]
Yes, please instruct me
How defenseless are you, Vince?
Show it all to me
You can cease this love
No more than the burning of the sun
Or Gaia's turning
Do not fear or fret,
Take my hand and join this dance
You humans call 'Love'
He is blind, you see;
Guileless to tradition,
He accepts us all
"Do you think he'll come?"
"Sephiroth? Yes, I know he will," the redhead answers.
"How do you know?" Angeal passes a quizzical look to his lover.
"I have...shall we say: arrangements. Trust me; he'll come. Maybe unknowingly, but he'll be there. One way, or another," he explains, polishing the poinsettia blade.
"I don't even want to know..." the sable-haired man decides verbally.
"That's good, because you would scold me if you knew."
"What did you do?" he asks, voice suspicious and accusing.
"Ah, ah, ah; you don't want to know, remember?" They share a wry smile. "Come over here," the redhead demands in a husky whisper.
"What?"
"Am I speaking Wutainese? Your body; displace it from that area and get your stubborn, stubbly face over here."
"But...Cloud and Vincent-"
"-Will be gone plenty long enough for this," he interrupts fiercely.
What kind of honorable gentleman would Angeal be to fight such perfect logic?
A/N: Well, this is late... With good reason, my partner edits these for me, but he's not here, so...well, I'm sure there're plenty of mistakes to show you what that means (English is not my first language...). But it was already so late, I just had to post it. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, at least Vinnie's figuring things out... And hey, Ange and Gene got some sexy time xD