Clouderella
Okay, personally, I don't even think this is worth a warning…. It's not even lime, to be quite honest. It was, but now it ain't…. but people seem to expect it, so.
Warning: This has Shounen-Ai and a bit of dirty dancing, 'kay.
The Rock Show…
It happened in a heartbeat.
That is to say, the rhythm of fading subsonic drums was perfectly complimented by the pounding of his heart as Sephiroth finally stared this new occurrence; who'd somehow manage to draw all attention away from him, in the face.
Strange, how he'd never felt quite like this before; with completely inexplicable butterflies that kept rattling sharp wings self-destructively against his ribcage. He told himself that it must just be the collective sense of hyperbolic awe actually getting to him for once. Or the universe somehow rearranging itself to inform him that this was some kind of life defining moment, conspiring to etch every detail on his mind for eternity.
Well whatever it was, it was working.
The boy was breathtaking. Completely aloof and distant beneath a mask of inversely rainbowed raven feathers which blended and mingled with his hair, his lips, set in a languid smile that screamed of depravity, were the shade of dried rose petals. He had high, exotic cheekbones framed at one side by tumbling, glittered locks of gold, set downwards to curve with the feathers around his head. They shimmered seductively as he subtly tilted his face to meet the eyes of his admirer, and revealed a small black earring in the shape of a crucifix.
*
Cloud stood nervously on the top step as everyone in the room turned to stare, stepping back to allow him passage through the room. As if somehow he was important, he didn't know how Zack had managed it, but because nobody wanted to look stupid for not knowing who he was, they all did what was expected.
All he had to do was act as if it was his right and position to be here, that's what Zack had said, and never give them a chance to think. Part of his mind still insisted that they were going to laugh at him, any minute now, or ask him if he was even invited. But as he watched them crawl away like inconsequential insects, he realised he really didn't care anymore. They were playing along to his tune, and even if the mood was broken somehow, the sight of all those nobles falling completely in love would burn brightly in his memories.
As they moved reverently away from the centre aisle, he saw the impressive figure at the end of the path still staring disinterestedly into his drink. Tall and imposing, and absolutely beyond anything else in the room. He had a kind of nobility that had nothing to do with wealth, or social contacts. Alone, even at the centre of a crowd – where Cloud had needed to clear a space, Sephiroth simply made the rabble disappear behind his resplendence.
He went over in his thoughts, all the little things that people in crowds said; why they wouldn't accept him. He took each one in turn, and considered what they really meant.
'Little bitch.'
He straightened, tilting his hips without thinking to put himself into a slightly easier position if the need came to run or fight. The tall, silver haired statue across the parted sea of simulated deities had just, apparently, decided to acknowledge his presence at that moment, and was quite unhurried in his scrutiny.
'Pretty boy.'
Those voices from his childhood, melting into the taunting of the barracks; he could hear them all now and at last managed to see the funny side. Yeah, he was pretty… so what?
He felt those sea green eyes move upwards slowly, uncertain whether they were delighted or disgusted.
'Queer.'
He'd never once disputed that accusation, since they said it as if the word itself hurt them. They said it as if it were something to be ashamed of. He saw the fright in their eyes as they said it, the fright that they might be accused of it themselves, frightened of him. It left him alone sometimes, but it gave him a power over them that couldn't be mistaken for anything else. Even if they ganged up on him, they couldn't outfight someone they thought of as feeble and effeminate. Someone who, by rights, should be an easy target. They said it because they were scared of him… and he was scared because he had no such power over the man now concentrating on a point just above his heart.
'Whore.'
His costume was completed. To disguise himself, he'd simply wear his heart for all to see. He was untouchable, he was unusual, and he would be beautiful. If people thought he was a whore, he wouldn't let their words touch him. Tonight he would be a courtesan worthy of gods, and he would act the part to perfection. If he was evil, if he really was the demon child they always insisted he was with their eyes whenever they glanced his way, then let them see. Let them condemn the Devil in the Devil's dress, and not for who they thought he was.
*
The next song started, a stark contrast to what had come before, quieter, a slow dance. When Sephiroth finally met the most exquisite, mutable, mania-blue eyes he had ever imagined. He saw Cloud Strife, disguised in nothing but the pure burning truth.
/So close, no matter how far/
Those eyes were slightly different from those of a soldier, but so unusual that he must have been. Slowly beginning his descent, the boy moved with a fluid grace that was exclusive to only the most exceptional warriors. He stalked between rows of indistinct dreamlike apparitions, who closed in tightly behind him as he began his unstoppable advance, and kept his eyes fixed to Sephiroth's until the silver haired general was forced to turn his back. He was aware that the attention was drifting away, but there were too many people present for him to act out what was now running through his mind.
"Dance with me."
/Couldn't be much more from the heart/
It was not a question. For the first time in his entire life, someone who wasn't a scientist, or the president, was not giving him a choice. The voice he heard was quiet, and made him think of tearing silk.
Cloud couldn't believe what he'd just said, but he was trapped now, surrounded by a hundred soldiers in the guise of horrific creatures. He silently repeated his mantra, and held up by pure adrenaline, he waited.
/Forever trust in who you are/
Sephiroth turned to face him, eyes half lidded beneath the mask, and without a single word in reply, followed him onto the dance floor. A ripple of disbelief ran around the room, and Cloud's wicked smile was mirrored by that of his partner.
/And nothing else matters/
The small blond wrapped his arms possessively around the taller man's shoulders, quickly undoing the catch on Sephiroth's cape and letting it slide to the ground. Never taking his eyes off the man, lest he disappear, he felt strong arms slide around his waist. They moved slowly down over the belt which held Cloud's daggers, something Zack had suggested, in case anybody doubted whether he was a soldier.
/Never opened myself this way/
His hands slid of their own volition, down past the crossed belts, and anchoring themselves to the smaller man's behind. Just as they were moving together, his partner dropped his shimmering blue eyes and pirouetted with deliberate slowness, curving backwards into his arms once more. By now, Sephiroth was getting more than a little aroused, and the smaller man was taking full advantage. It must have appeared extraordinarily indulgent to those who were trying not to stare at the impromptu strip-tease, but they were enjoying it, and the opportunity shock as many people as they wished.
/Life was ours, we did it our way/
One belt dropped to the floor, landing on the pile of discarded velvet with a muted thud. But before the other shared the same fate, Sephiroth took hold of the tight black ribbon that had been tucked beneath the first and was now beginning to unravel. He almost paused to ask permission, but as he looked down into those deep blue pools of light, he decided that an answer wouldn't make much difference.
/All these words I don't just say/
Cloud knew what Sephiroth was thinking the moment he felt the hand take hold of the ribbon. Misty emerald eyes flickered slightly in indecision, as the blond tilted his head backward to see the tall man behind him. Slowly, the ribbon was pulled, and he twisted around it, revealing more skin as the peculiar dance went on.
/And nothing else matters/
He pulled the length of material as he drew the body in his arms closer, delighting in every revealed inch of glittered skin that glimmered in the phantasmal lighting. He'd never met this beauty before, and was surprised, for if he was a soldier, and he had to be, he would have surely seen him before now. Besides which, even in disguise he didn't think any of his soldiers would dare to act this way with him, as if they cared as little for shinra or protocol as he secretly did, and knew it.
/Trust I seek, and I find in you/
Then again, he'd never danced like this with anyone. The person in his arms moving perfectly against him, around him, as the ribbon only lightly attached to his wrist was now wrapped gently about the taller dancer. They were becoming entangled together within the purposeful movements of both, now completely uncaring of anyone else in the room.
/Everyday for us something new/
Every so often their hips would meet, painfully, sending a shock of pleasure that added to the euphoric slow dancing. Now, as they became more closely entwined, the feeling was getting more intense, and Sephiroth had to do something to keep himself from crying out under the skilful ministrations of his mysterious lover. Pulling away the vicious looking collar, he buried his face in the soft skin beneath the jaw and began to kiss and bite, hard enough to leave a mark. At least, if he ran into the boy again, he'd recognise his handiwork.
/Open mind for a different view/
focused on his task, he only stopped when a dark red bruise was blooming on the pale skin, a bloody rose that marked the man as his own. He ran his tongue upwards, biting around the dark earring as he passed, breathing in a scent like black cherries and snow. Eyes closed, he felt the blond turn and brush their mouths together, nibbling on his lower lip, tremulously seeking entry. They were no longer dancing, but still, in the centre of the room. Their kiss deepened, lotus tasting, tongues caught up in a passionate battle. Nobody else was dancing either, but they never noticed, lost in the centre of an incredulous swarm of eyes.
/And nothing else matters/
The large clock began to chime, ringing far louder than it should. It was then that they finally realised they had made themselves the centre of attention once more. It was twelve o' clock, the witching hour, and on the last chime all would unmask. But for now, he was content just to steal kisses.
/Never cared for what they do/
The fourth chime, he'd never taken that much notice of little customs before, but he was desperate for the chance to remove the head-dress that hid his dark angel's face. People were beginning to whisper, almost as excited as he, to discover who it was that could melt their Ice General's heart so thoroughly.
/Never cared for things they say/
The sixth chime, and Sephiroth felt his new love's body tense, blue eyes focusing on a point near the main doors. He turned and saw a group of uniformed men, and behind them, Hojo and Lockheart. They were beginning to disperse among the partygoers, still trying to remain inconspicuous.
/never cared for games they play/
The eighth chime, and the small blonde had ducked out of his arms and retrieved his dropped scabbard from the floor. For only the second time, Sephiroth heard the boy speak, a whispered "I love you," before setting toward the staircase at a dead run. Evading the first group of guards, he outmanoeuvred them easily. Sephiroth was still stunned at the whispered confession to do anything, the ribbon still tightly wrapped around his body.
Angry, at Hojo, because he wouldn't get angry at someone who had risked his life for one, admittedly amazing, dance… "I love you too," He thought, watching the fair man nearly fly up the stairs. He ducked to avoid capture, and then, to the shock of everyone in the hall, took one of the black bladed daggers and threw it across the room, where it embedded itself in the heart of Mayor Lockheart Himself. A last act of revenge.
/Never cared for what they know/
The tenth chime, and Sephiroth was only disappointed that he hadn't hit Hojo. He still watched every move of the boy as he pushed indiscriminately through the crowd in an attempt to follow. Zack managed to grab his arm at one point, and Lockheart's bawling daughter, but he just threw them off without thinking or caring. He only stopped when the boy finished fighting his way through soldiers and stood in the open door, he wasn't bothered about the dead mayor or the clamouring to capture him. Instead, he waited until the twelfth chime before tearing away the mask to reveal himself, beneath, his eyes were rimmed with deep blue eyeliner and tears. Then, with one last sorrowful glance toward Sephiroth he fled into the night.
/and I know/
……..
Author's Not So Unpredictable Bit At The End Of The Chapter: Phew, I got that one done then.
1: Yeah, it was long… but I couldn't really cut it in half, I'm not that cruel.
2: Yep, Cloud's First favourite band… How could they not be with a song like Master of Puppets? Or any of their other songs come to think of it.
3: Um, it wasn't too bad, was it?
4: It might not seem to follow the game, but I tried to get it close metaphorically, and also with a bit of er, whaddayacallit, symbolism. I like symbolism, in fact, if you read all my stories through, you can probably tell that I'm usually writing two stories at once. (People say that my personality is divided, but I don't think so, then again, maybe it is…^_^)
5: Mayor Lockheart…. Well, somebody had to do it. Seph woulda, but he didn't exactly have as much reason. I promise much slaughter for the future.
6: Seph getting led along like that, he heh.
7: Hiya Lauren, and Dina. You've been so nice and reviewed every chapter so far and all I do is leave you hangin'. ^_^ Oh and anyone else who's reviewed since yesterday, and Starlee, if you actually managed to find this page! Oh yeah, and Nicola (DarkSquall), for being my new loyal Elfwood fan!
I prefer, Adieu…
