First kiss
Zack slowly opened his eyes. Well, his eye, because the other was bandaged, as well as his head. He was in pain, his neck was all cramped and encased in a cervical support, all he could see was the ceiling and the top frame of the door. He was in an hospital. Zack growled; he hated hospitals… but he had to admit he was feeling bad enough. The black-haired man was surprised when his superior came into his view.
- Zack… Finally. How are you feeling?
- Ugh… I've been better than that. Care to lift me up? The ceiling's making me sick…
- Sure, but you can't move your neck. I don't want you in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.
Sephiroth lifted the bed to sat his Commander to a comfortable position. Zack sighed but smiled as the throbbing at the back of his head lessened considerably. He could now look at his room… and at his roommate. Cloud was lying on his bed, his arm tightly bandaged and raised up above the rest of his body. Like him, he had a IV inserted in the wrist, but he seemed to be sleeping soundly.
- Spike… Hey, Spike!, Zack called, Sephiroth, what happened to him?
- He killed a Behemoth with your sword.
- He what?!? How did he…!?!
- Shhhh!!! I told you… He killed the thing with your sword, he broke a limit! He /is/ a swordsman… though he's lacking experience.
- Geez… and his arm, it's that bad?
The General nodded.
- He still have to undergo two surgeries; one to reconnect the muscles and one to replace and mend the bones. Fortunately, the nerves weren't too damaged…, Sephiroth took a shuddering breath, Zack… I don't know what's happening to me, I feel so bad, I…
- You care for him, it's normal.
- But… but I care for you too!, he exclaimed, It's not the same thing… I mean, I feel, the whole thing feels… I'm so confused, it's frustrating!
Just then a nurse came in and grabbed Cloud's stretcher to take him to the surgery unit. The two friends sighed, and Sephiroth sat back down on the chair next to Zack. An hour, two hours passed… Five hours later, in the middle of the night, the blond, still kept under anaesthetic, was returned in the rest room. His arm was now in a full cast, which was beginning just above the elbow and was completely closed around the fingers. The doctors had also installed a sling to support the thing.
Sephiroth gasped. If I had been there, it would have never happened… It's my fault. All my fault… Zack, who in the meantime had been relieved of his cervical support, pushed his own stretcher next to Cloud's. He held on his good hand all night long, while Sephiroth just stared out the window at the stars. I feel so bad about this… He turned to look at the prone form and he reached for a golden lock he found amazingly soft. He would make up for it.
*******
Once they reached back Midgar, Sephiroth ordered that Zack and Cloud were taken into their quarters. Cloud was under heavy medication, and needed someone with him, and Sephiroth thought that his roommate would take care of him for a while before he could take his student with him… It was his way to excuse himself. The blond had been very drowsy and confused since he got out of the hospital, mainly because of the pills he was taking, and he'd slept all the ride back. Two troopers escorted him while Zack was lead to his own room to rest. None of them should be allowed to leave the bed for at least a week, and Sephiroth made clear that they shouldn't be left alone in any case.
However, he didn't had the chance to go make some arrangements in his quarters as two lab assistants came to tell him that Hojo wanted to see him immediately. Sephiroth sighed but resigned himself. He followed. Hojo didn't lose time and stripped him to waist level, plugging as much electrodes as he could before strapping him on a metal table.
- Well, how unfortunate… It seems you need another treatment, boy. And I will plan another few tests as well.
The silver-haired General turned his head away as Hojo plunged a long needle in his forearm. He fought not to show any weakness, even if his veins were already burning. The mad scientist examined and noted a few readings, rummaging around his lab doing God-knows-what. Sephiroth was freed and took the chance.
- Your plans may be hard to follow, I now have a student with me. It's the only real potential in swordsmanship, and I'm not letting him go.
You could almost see the smoke coming out of the Professor's ears. The man was pissed, to say the least (who caaaaaaaares!!). He lay down his clipboard and glared at his son.
- Oh no, you are not…
- Yes I am, smirked Sephiroth, and you will live with it.
And with that he was gone, the mere thought of having, for once, made Hojo mad and to get away with it, was enough and Sephiroth forgot for a moment his pain. He heard a crashing noise behind him and Hojo shouted out loud that his attitude was inexcusable. The silver-haired man retorted by telling him that Shinra needed more competent swordsmen, and since he was the only one good enough to teach, he had no choice. This closed the argument and the irritated Professor waved his arms in the air.
- Don't expect me to give up on you! Monthly check-ups and monitoring before and after each mission from now on! Ungrateful child…
Sephiroth smirked to himself and stepped into the elevator to get to his quarters.
*******
A week later.
Gary was woken up by someone knocking at the door of their dorm. Knowing that Cloud wasn't able to get it, he got out of bed to answer it. He was very surprised to see Cloud's instructor, Donovan Hatako, so early in the morning. He was very upset.
- Okay, so where's that lazy blockhead! He yelled.
- Sir… with all due respect, please, not so loud!
- So he's in there! I'm gonna teach him to skip my classes…
He shoved Gary away and slammed to door behind him, leaving Gary outside his dorm with only his night clothes. Soon he began to hear Hatako barking and a loud crashing noise, followed by a surprised yelp. The brunette did the only thing he could think of; he ran off for the Commander's quarters. He banged on the door until Zack answered, still entangled in one of his sheets. He looked questioningly at the trooper, a yawn making his way up before he began to speak.
- Do you even have an idea of what hour it is?
- I know it's terribly early, sir, but Hatako barged into our dorm and he's with Cloud and I heard a crashing noise…
- Wait, wait, wait, wait!!! Did you just said that Hatako's in your dorm alone with Cloud?
- Yes sir! You must stop him! He's gonna hurt Cloud, I mean, he was pissed off…
Zack's eyes widened and he shook his head furiously.
- Shit! Holy /shit/! Hatako's a first class, I can't stop him unless the General gives me the order to do so… The General! That's it! Come with me, hurry up!
He closed the door of his quarter, throwing inside the sheet and began to run up all the way to his superior's dorm.
*******
Cloud curled on himself, trying to protect his arm from Hatako's blows. However, the SOLDIER was hitting it anyway, making the young blond cry out in pain. Blood was flooding from his exploded lip, and the medicine still strong in his system slowing his movements was confusing him even more. And all of a sudden, everything stopped, he was finally left alone, but the yelling didn't stop. Sephiroth had grabbed Hatako and dragged him out to reprimand him. Cloud's thoughts were swirling.
********
- What did you think? What if she dies!?! Take that!
A harsh punch threw him backward and the young Cloud looked up at the man with fear in his eyes. The man grabbed him by the collar and pushed him on the ground toward his house before turning back.
- Don't ever go near her again!
This opened the way to the other children, and soon the young blond was surrounded and pushed farther into the mud. He couldn't move, couldn't do anything, he wasn't strong enough… So he let them do as they pleased until a blond woman chased them away.
- My poor little baby! Cloudy-boy, do you hear me? Cloud? Cloud?
*******
- Cloud?… Cloud?
Something, no someone picked him up and Cloud was lay back on his bed. Gary rummaged through the mess the room had become to retrieve Cloud's painkillers and gave them to Zack, who quickly corked to bottle open and gave two to the trembling form half laying on him. He then grabbed the glass that managed to stay intact and brought it to the blond's lips.
- C'mon, Cloud… drink a little… Aww God, he's so limp he's difficult to hold!
- It's because the sleeping pills are still affecting him, sir. Usually, he doesn't wake up before ten in the morning, and it's barely 7:30. I guess he's going to nod off in few minutes if everything is quiet, sir.
- I see. But I knew Hatako had this sort of behaviour, I should have done something about this sooner… Geez, gimme a Kleenex or something, it's bleeding!
- It's been worse, sir. One day he came back with a bruise the size of my hand on his back, right here, he said, pointing the area just above the hip. I had to call him sick the next day because he wasn't able to walk.
- How is he?
They both lifted their head to see the General Sephiroth come closer and put a hand on Cloud's forehead.
- He's going to be fine, sir…, answered Gary, Thank you a lot, sir.
- It's my job, trooper. The rules are the rules, everybody must follow them. And since it's not the first time, the captain Donovan Hatako will be moved into the regulars cantoned in Wutai. But I must inform you of one thing; you will have a new roommate tomorrow, I'm going to monitor Cloud in his studies and teach him sword mastery, so he's moving into my quarters this afternoon. Will you be able to pack his things and bring him into my office at 2:00 pm?
- Yes sir!
Sephiroth turned and smiled to Zack, who carefully removed himself from the sleeping form and followed his superior outside. The dark-haired man nudged him in the ribs.
- You do care a lot for him…
- What are you insinuating?
Zack only laughed.
*******
Cloud was brought to the real world by the sharp pain racking his arm. He groaned and curled on himself, willing himself to return to sleep, wanting desperately to escape the pain. All he remembered was like a dream, something throwing him off his bed, the yelling and a blurry walking sensation… He heard someone get up and coming closer to him, Gary probably, and he slowly relaxed.
- Cloud? Are you all right?
Cloud forced his eyes to open, this did not sound like Gary at all, the voice was deeper and sweeter… It took him few minutes but he could now make out his surroundings. He wasn't in his bunk anymore but in a king size bed, fluffy and comfy, and it wasn't a stretcher too, so he had to be in… The silver-haired man that was now sitting next to him answered to his unspoken question. He was in the General's quarters.
- You all right?, Sephiroth repeated.
Cloud tried to answer but couldn't will his voice to work properly. Sephiroth handed him a little blue pill and a glass of water he swallowed. He noticed that he was leaned against a lot of pillows and his arm rested on a fluffy cushion. He looked at his superior and managed a smile.
- Thanks… for all, sir.
Sephiroth smiled sweetly and ruffled Cloud's hair.
- You're welcome. And since you and I will spend a lot of time together, in private you can call me Sephiroth. Now, do you want to get up and eat something?
Cloud nodded so the silver-haired man helped him to get up and lead him to the small kitchen. Something was brewing on the stove, a sweet odour was floating around, and Cloud realised he was starving. Sephiroth placed two bowls on the table and poured the content of the saucepan into them. He also brought two glass of fresh water. Cloud took his spoon and tasted the appealing soup.
- Mmm… What is it?
- Orange and carrots soup. You like it?
The blond nodded and gulped down the rest of his bowl, and he even took another portion. Sephiroth just ate slowly, looking at Cloud with a strange relief gleaming in his eyes. He couldn't make out why he was so happy to have him around, it was so relaxing. He had taken the week to think about it, and he came to the conclusion that taking Cloud with him would be the best thing that could ever happen to him. He watched amused as the blond cleaned his bowl, but he frowned when a shiver made his way down his spine.
- Are you cold?
Cloud's head dropped and he held onto his cast, almost falling off his chair as the pill kicked in. Sephiroth jumped and caught him, cradling the drowsy boy to carry him back into his bed. He was about to lie him down, but Cloud clung to his shirt strongly. The General looked at those disconcerting blue eyes and he sat down on the mattress, placing the blond on his lap.
- Just a little longer…, he slurred, Please, if you don't mind…
- Not at all, I…, Sephiroth bit his lower lip, Cloud, can I be honest with you?
- Mmmm?
- I… I think I feel something for you. I can't put a name on it, not yet…
He paused and thought about it. When he was with Cloud, he was anxious and calm at the same time, he couldn't think straight. His mouth was drying, his stomach was knotting but he was relieved. Everything stopped when Cloud was around, and when he wasn't there, all he had been able to think was about Cloud. He'd hid this from himself, which only made him more confused.
- It's like… God, I can't even remember the last full meal I had since I started feeling this.
Cloud dropped his head on Sephiroth's chest, like he was listening to something. After few moments he sighed and snuggled closer, making the older man suddenly worry. The blond snuggling against him felt wonderful, but he couldn't understand why somebody would want to do this. It feels… so right, so perfect.
- Your heart's ringing…
Sephiroth's eyes widened and he looked down at two half closed sapphire that were glowing with fresh tears. What? Does he feel it too? Two pearls made their way down but they were stopped by a gentle hand. For once in his life, Sephiroth felt the rightness in his actions, actions coming from his heart and soul, two things Hojo and Shinra taught him to ignore and repress. For once in his life he was feeling alive.
- Cloud… Do you…?
The blond nodded.
- Yes… sir… Sephiroth…
Sephiroth bent down and brushed lightly his lips on Cloud's, instinctively, gently and he drowned in the feeling of their first kiss, felt the warm body under him trembled a little and relax. Cloud couldn't believe that someone wanted him, but he kissed back as much as he could before the medicine took him out. Sephiroth nuzzled his hair and he tightened his embrace. Now he could put a name on that feeling: love. He'd heard of it, but it had been refused to him as a child, now he could have it and it tasted like heaven. He leaned back on the pillows, Cloud securely in his arms and he too fell asleep. Zack was right, they were alike, and he thought that he understood now what was making his second laugh earlier. He had been in love with Cloud since the first time they met, but he wasn't even aware of it. He had said that he needed someone… Maybe Cloud was this someone. No, not maybe… he /is/. Cloud… Zack… Tseng… so much people around me all of a sudden. But Cloud… will you love me back?
End
Author's notes
*Jumps up and down like crazy* I got one!!!! I finally found one!!!!!!! I have a Sephiroth collection figurine!!!!!!!! *Drools all over the place* Sephy… YAY!!!! Next chapter: Professor Zack's love lessons.