Professor Zack's love lessons
- Where is he? Where is the General?, yelled Heidegger
Zack straightened himself before answering that he didn't know. Heidegger ordered him to bring him into his office in the hour and the dark-haired man scampered off to his superior's quarters. The dark-haired man feared that Hojo had gotten him again… He barged in and went straight to the bedroom.
- Seph? Seph are you all… !?!
He stopped in the doorframe when he saw the sickening cuteness in the scene displayed before him. Cloud was snuggled into the covers on Sephiroth's chest, the silver-haired man protecting him form any harm, the two of them sleeping soundly. Zack smiled warmly. He had wanted to see this, maybe not that early… Cloud told him he had a serious crush on Sephiroth just before the mission, and Zack could tell Sephiroth was feeling something for the blond, but he didn't seem to realise it… It was now clear that the General now had. Zack shook Cloud gently, who woke up slowly from a deep slumber.
- Wha… Zack?
- Spike… How're you doing? And did you two, you know, …?
- Mmm… I don't know… Ask him. And I'm feeling better today, thanks. Sephiroth… Sephiroth?
Cloud got up with Zack's help and he too tried to wake him up, and Sephiroth finally cracked open a jade eye. With an annoyed grunt he rolled over and hid himself under the covers. Zack scratched the back of his head nervously and decided to tell him that Heidegger wanted to see him right now. This did the trick and Sephiroth growled before getting out of bed to dress. Cloud yawned and tried to slip under the still warm sheets but Zack stopped him.
- Tsk, tsk, tsk, Spiky head! I have also something for you! You are summoned by the infirmary. They will remove your cast today and change your medication.
The blond nodded and rummaged into his duffle bad to retrieve another pair of pants, his socks and a light blue tank top. He then turned shyly to Sephiroth.
- Though I don't want you to be late, I need help…
Sephiroth smiled.
- I am already, and it wasn't your fault. Come here.
Zack chuckled and handed his superior the clothes. First they removed Cloud's actual clothing and then Sephiroth put him the tank top and the pants while Zack busied himself with the socks and boots. After ten minutes of struggling, they managed to make Cloud presentable. The poor boy was blushing badly, so Sephiroth ruffled his hair playfully.
- I trust Zack with my life, Cloud. Don't be so embarrassed. Now go, I'll try to come back early. Be at ease, and use whatever you need. Just don't open the door to anybody, okay?
Cloud nodded and the General passed his arms around his waist, hugging him gently before going with Zack. Cloud grabbed his coat and wrapped it around his shoulders and trotted to the infirmary.
*******
- What are you thinking!?! Sending in Wutai one of the most powerful SOLDIER?, yelled Heidegger, Why…
- He is a nuisance, Hatako can't take out the best recruits for the program. Plus, I had several reports on him beating up the prospects, and I suspect him of being involved in cadet Riley's death. And he's not powerful, but power-hungry. All of his cadets are mostly incompetents, lazy and can't even use properly a sword.
Heidegger and Sephiroth glared at each other, they were arguing since the General'd gotten into the office, under the watchful eye of the new young VP of the company. Rufus Shinra, accompanied by his Dark Nation, was scribbling down notes. He flipped his hair swiftly and put away the papers he worked on and looked at the General.
- I must say that the General got a point here, Heidegger. Since he'd got promoted, the quality of the SOLDIER prospects have decreased. Now let him go. He's got a job to do, Heidegger, and from what I see he's doing it correctly, not like you. And stop questioning every decision he makes. He's the leader of the army, he does what he wants with his men. You're only here to assure the security of the base and dispatch him the missions. Let him lead the army, he knows what to do.
The fat man babbled but Rufus glared at him and Dark Nation growled. Heidegger turned and got out of the office. The blond petted his animal and smiled sheepishly before grabbing a strawberry candy and he tossed it to the General with a wink.
- Please, excuse him, he's a little old and tends to overreact… In fact, he's boring me, he added with a wink. But enough of this, get back to work, General, and again excuse him. But I must warn you; Hatako is indeed involved into Riley's death, though we haven't enough proofs to support the theory. Your decision was judicious for the company. However, you just made yourself a powerful enemy.
Sephiroth nodded and unwrapped the candy. He smiled back at the VP, savouring the soft texture of the strawberry cream. Dark Nation trotted to him and rubbed his head against his leg.
- It's odd, Dark Nation usually doesn't do this to other people than me…
- With your permission, sir, I would like to take the rest of the day off. And where can I get some of those sweets?
*******
When Sephiroth came back, in the middle afternoon, he had had a rough morning, and all he wanted to do was to slump into his couch and enjoy the quietness of his quarters. He stepped in the small living room and turned the lights on, but almost immediately Zack got out of the bathroom and switched them off, scolding his superior.
- Don't! He's feeling bad enough…
Sephiroth bolted to the couch, where Cloud was lying limply, his arm no more restrained, but still supported by a sling. The silver-haired man smiled and cradled the sleeping blond in his arms, carefully, and took him into his bedroom. He lay Cloud gently against the pillows and planted a light kiss on those soft pink lips before covering him. Zack watched from afar, and after leaving the papers the doctors gave to him on the table, he quietly started to make his way out.
- Be very gentle when you change his bandages, okay? And before I forget; you two are making a very cute couple!
*******
The next days were days of discovery for both of them. Cloud and Sephiroth found out that they had a lot in common, but most they discovered love. Cloud and Sephiroth were made to be together, already each of them could read the other. They shared life stories cuddled on the couch, listened music or worked on Cloud's studies. From Sephiroth's view, Cloud was adorably shy, reserved, intelligent… and would become strong again in only few weeks. A perfect prospect for SOLDIER, and the ideal person to have around with the tensed life he was living. He had to admit that Zack was right, being with Cloud was making him feel better, happier. And Cloud was finally seeing the real Sephiroth, the thoughtful, fundamentally kind spirited, but mostly confused and afraid man behind the cool exterior the world was in presence of. His mother had died giving birth to him, his father was no other than Hojo, and everything he had known was loneliness and pain from this man. The tests were awful, and the worst part of the thing was that he was even watched after them. But there was a good side: Tseng, now head of the Turks, and his only childhood friend was the one to watch him. And the General had received a message from him not long ago saying that he hadn't reassign anyone to this particular duty, himself having been transferred as Rufus Shinra's bodyguard. Sephiroth was a deeply hurt man, in more than one way. But Cloud was already madly in love with him and determined to provide him the affection and care he'd missed for so long… With everything that was in him.
The only moments where there was some tension between them was the daily care time. At first, when Sephiroth removed Cloud's bandage, the blond blacked out. It startled Sephiroth, and he felt very bad when the blond woke up, but Cloud explained that he always did that; whenever he got hurt, he couldn't help but to faint. He couldn't stand doctors and needles, many types of medicine was making him drowsy or sick, he was even allergic to some, anyway, he had grown up adept of avoiding the clinic or hospital at all costs. Though in this case, he haven't much choice. But he encouraged Sephiroth to continue, and the next times, it was going relatively well.
********
Cloud took a deep breath and closed his eyes, counting up to ten before nodding to the silver-haired man above him. Sephiroth carefully unwrapped his forearm, checking for any sign of discomfort from his blond. Four days of materia therapy and the wound was just a bad memory, now the bandage was only to keep it from opening again. However, the slash had left many pink scars over his hand. The General soaked the washcloth into the warm water and began to clean gently the skin.
- Ok, now wriggle your fingers…
Cloud did as he was told. He could feel every movement Sephiroth was doing on his injured arm, and this was making him feel upside-down. But the older man had now have lay him on the couch, and whenever he started to feel very bad, Sephiroth immediately stopped and put an icy-wet washcloth on his forehead. Cloud concentrated and wriggled each finger, one after another, in order, then all together.
- Good… Now close your fist.
As he was starting to close his hand, Cloud felt a big wave of nausea rise up inside of him, and he became flushed. He was feeling the muscles and bones move inside his hand, the knot in his stomach was suddenly extremely painful. Weakness seized the rest of his body and Cloud's eyes rolled. Sephiroth immediately stopped when he realised that the blond's hand went limp.
- Cloud! Cloud! Stay with me!
- Urg…
- Come on, Cloud! Cloud! Wake up!
Sephiroth sat up the blond and shook him a little but it didn't woke him. The silver-haired man then took him into his arms to rock him, a damp hand towel on his face and his injured arm securely laid in his lap. Finally, after several minutes, he came back from the blackness. Cloud groaned but didn't move, seeking comfort.
- The materia haven't reach the full effect… We'll try again tomorrow. Are you alright or do you want me to hold you longer?
Cloud shifted his position and buried his head into Sephiroth's shirt. Sephiroth smiled and nuzzled the soft blond spikes. For a moment they were lost in time, a perfect picture of love, holding each other, and the evening passed leisurely. The blond was leaning cosily against his angel, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart beating. He pressed himself a little more. The last days had been so wonderful, all he wanted for now was to stay buried in those arms forever. He sighed deeply.
- Sephy… I love you so much. I could just stay here forever.
- And I could hold you forever, love…
Cloud tilted his head up and soon he felt the soft tickle of Sephiroth's hair on his neck as he kissed him lightly. But Cloud pressed harder, pushing his tongue into Sephiroth's mouth, tasting him deeply. The blond could feel a hot stirring in his loins as the kiss became more passionate and instinctively bucked his hips forward. He wasn't the only one stuck with the condition, the silver-haired man was trembling all over and squeezed Cloud as he toppled over him, never breaking the kiss. The blond was lost in a sea of pleasure, Sephiroth touching every inch of his heated skin. The two were moaning loudly and when they remembered to breath, Sephiroth was flushed and dangerously aroused. Cloud had a very pleasant scent, his skin was smooth and he tasted /good/. However, even if he could feel what his body wanted, he couldn't figure out what to do. The blond seemed to notice and he just pulled on a silver strand with his valid hand to bring the man closer.
- Cloud… I… What… Oh God!!!
Cloud had bucked upward again, sending them both over the edge. Something exploded inside of him, and Sephiroth arched, he felt his blond do the same, and everything whirled in a white sparkling flash for a moment before he could breath again. So powerful… The silver-haired man realised he was spread over Cloud, who in the meantime had passed both of his arms around his torso and was holding him there. What just happened was new and confusing to him and at the same time, it felt incomplete. A few gentle strokes in his hair brought him back from his thoughts, and he opened his eyes to look at two deep sapphires. Cloud was smiling sleepily and his hands moved down a little to caress and scratch lightly Sephiroth's neck. After few minutes, the blond had the General purring under his touches. Sephiroth leant down on Cloud's body, placing his head on his shoulder. He would talk to Zack later.
********
Pain… He couldn't feel anything else. His body was reacting violently to the stuff in which he was floating. It was cold… He opened his eyes slowly and he could see Hojo finally stopping the machine. Another man was standing beside the tube, and as soon as the door opened the dark-haired man grabbed him. Sephiroth's throat was burning, and he was feeling faint. He started to cough up all the Mako that had gotten into his system.
- Sephiroth?
The small Sephiroth jerked, and the mysterious man almost dropped him. The lights were turning, the walls spinning, the child had no control over his actions, but he could hear a deep and soothing voice reaching him through all his pain.
- Stay with me Sephiroth! Hold on! Sephiroth…
********
- Sephiroth! Wake up! Wake up!
The silver-haired man was tossing violently, his whole body convulsing under the assault of the memory. Cloud took hold of Sephiroth's shoulders, still calling his name, shaking him, with no avail. The General was trapped in his nightmare. The blond then moved behind him, and using his valid hand, he pulled his head toward him, gently stroking his hair, and this seemed to calm him down. Cloud was extremely worried and after few minutes he shook his lover again. The body in his arm tensed and a jade eye cracked open.
- Sephy? Are you alright?
- Cl… Cloud?
- Yeah, it's me… It was just a dream, okay?…
Sephiroth nodded feebly, picking himself up. He still had nightmares, but a lot less since he was with Cloud. He sleepily made his way to the bedroom with the blond behind him, who simply stopped at the bathroom a minute before joining him, a damp washcloth in hand.
- Here, go wash yourself, it must be very uncomfortable…
Sephiroth did as he was told, shutting himself in the small cabinet, washing himself clean of the sticky liquid stuck on his tights. The memory of the dream was still haunting him, he didn't feel like he could sleep ever again. After a quick change of underwear, he resigned himself and went to his bed, where Cloud was already waiting. Cloud… The silver-haired man didn't noticed he had stopped at the foot of the bed. Everything in him was aching, something was amiss… Cloud suddenly got up and wrapped his arm around his waist.
- Don't be afraid… I'm here, Sephy.
How…? How could he know…? Sephiroth was stunned. However, he let Cloud pull him toward the bed. The blond sat down and then gestured to him to sit before him. Surprisingly, Sephiroth found out that being held was a very pleasant feeling with Cloud, while with Zack it had felt a little odd. He leaned against that smooth chest, careful not to hurt Cloud, and closed his eyes.
********
Cloud recovered rather quickly, and Sephiroth found out that teaching him the basis of swordsmanship was a real pleasure. When Cloud finished his classes, he was returning to the General's quarters and both of them were going out to practise. At first, they did a lot of breathing exercises, practised basis positions and elaborated ways of holding a sword. However, Cloud having not recovered enough strength to lift a real sword, used a light rapier. But not today. Sephiroth hadn't come back.
********
Zack was pacing the room furiously, an apparent tint of red on his cheeks, trying desperately to find the right words, the right way to answer Sephiroth's questions. Finally, he ended up blurting everything.
- You never heard about the mysteries of life? GAAAWWD!!! Seph! In 19 years, you never, ever made love to anyone?!?
Sephiroth tilted his head and looked questioningly at Zack. The dark haired man sighed, hiding his face into his hands.
- I bet you don't even know what I'm talking about… I'm right?
The General nodded.
- You told me you had a very violent reaction when Cloud brushed you there? Well, let me tell you this: don't worry, it is perfectly normal. And since you obviously need help, I'm willing to give it to you for now. What you had is called an erection, and what you did with Cloud is called 'dry sex', that's all. To make love to someone means that you have sex with someone.
- So, it means I made love with Cloud?
- Err… Yes and no. Goddamnit… How explain…
- It was a part of the whole thing?
- Yeah, more like this. This sort of teasing, when you make love to someone is called the preliminaries. *sigh* Sephiroth… I don't feel like explaining all of this to you tonight… Not here, not now. What about you coming at the 'Seventh Heaven' tomorrow? At 10:30, okay?
The General, visibly deceived, nodded and thanked his friend. Zack flopped into his couch, shaking his head badly in desperation. That was just totally staggering; the Great Sephiroth asking /him/ about sex. But knowing what had been his life, Zack couldn't blame him… He got up and walked to a small chest of drawers where he kept his stack of Gongagan liquor, decided to get a drink, when a soft knock at his door made him turn back. He almost fell back when he opened to a very confused Cloud.
- Hey Zack… Did you see Sephiroth? He didn't came back tonight…
- Oh, something tells me he's on his way, he answered, scratching the back of his neck. You seem quite preoccupied, Spike, what's the matter?
- Can I come in?
Zack started to regret it the moment Cloud sat on the couch, the same way Sephiroth had done, and started to speak with the same hesitation.
- Zack… you told me you did it once with a man, no? Tell me… I don't want to look stupid before him…
The Commander groaned and invited Zack to his mini-conference at the 'Seventh Heaven'. When Cloud scampered off, a little idea popped out of his brain. Maybe, if he played his cards well, he could… A large grin on his face, he poured a little amount of blue liquid into his glass and gulped it down. Tomorrow will be a very funny night.
End
Author's notes
If I say Zack's liquor is lemon flavoured, does it ring a bell? Be prepared for the next chapter. Oh, and sorry for the updates that are taking time, but at least I'm still writing… Hope the story will develop well! Next chapter: Soothing embrace.