Soothing embrace

9:30, the Seventh Heaven

Zack entered the bar, a large grin plastered on his face. The place was small but friendly, not so far from the HQ, and provided the perfect atmosphere for a serious conversation. He walked to the far end of the place, in the only private booth when a barmaid stopped him.

- Zacky dear! How are you!, she chirped joyfully, And why are you going into this?

- Kats! He he… I'm fine, and I see you're doing well, too. I have a favour to ask you.

- Oh, and what is it, deary?

- Oh, listen well, Kats. You heard of Sephiroth, well, he'll come in about an hour, I want you to bring him into the booth, okay? And also a little blond boy will come, you do the same. And one more important thing; when they will order, I want you to bring back doubles, okay? You make the bill for me. And bring a bottle of Gongaga Lemon with 3 glasses for now.

The waitress looked at him and put her hands on her hips.

- Oh, Zacky, dear, you try to hide something from me… What is it?

- Promise not to tell.

- You know me better than that.

- Alright, alright. I'm trying to match two souls suffering from a cruel lack of communication. And tell me, you still have rooms upstairs?

*******

Sephiroth entered the small crowded establishment and wondered again why, and in the name of what, he had accepted to meet Zack in such a place. A brunette, and by the way she was dressed he could tell she was a barmaid, came immediately to him.

- Good night, General, sir, she greeted him politely, Please come in.

The General nodded and followed the girl into the only private booth, which was barren for the moment. He sat on the comfy leather seat and noticed there was already a bottle of liquor on the table, along with three glasses... The barmaid smiled.

- Enjoy yourself!

With that she left him alone. Sephiroth sighed, wondering where Zack had gotten, and waited. Meanwhile, outside, Cloud was still trying to find a proper lie that would get him in, but when the barmaid saw him, she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

- Well hello, there! Don't be shy, come in! Someone is already waiting for you, you don't want to make him wait, now do you?

- Zack is already there?, the blond asked.

- Come in and you'll see!, she chirped back

She ushered him to the booth and Cloud startled when he noticed that Sephiroth was waiting… And the silver-haired man rose up, blushing furiously, knowing that he was here to talk about certain explicit matters.

- Cloud? What are you doing here?

- And… And you?

- So finally everyone is there!

- ZACK???, they said in unison

The dark-haired man smiled and sat between the two, so Sephiroth and Cloud were face to face. He grabbed the liquor and glasses, pouring a generous amount of blue liquid into them and handed one to Sephiroth, one to Cloud and kept the third.

- Now, now, now… Both of you know why you're here, but you obviously don't know it's for the same reason. We are going to solve this problem once and for all. For now, drink, this is on me.

The two gulped down the bitter liquid without hesitation. Kats came back a second later and asked their commands. Sephiroth ordered plain whisky and Cloud a Reactor. Zack winked to the girl and waited for his friends to finish their drink before starting.

- Good, now that you're warmed up, who wants to start?

- What do you mean?, asked Cloud, Start what?

- To talk! What sort of question is that? You're here to talk, so talk about your problems… And don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about.

The two looked at each other for a moment, blushing badly, and then Cloud took a deep breath. He willed his vocal cords to work.

- Sephy… I-I, Gods I don't want to look that stupid to you… I-I asked to Zack, oh damn it! I don't know how, you know… I never made love before and I want to do it with you…

The blond's shoulders were shaking, and he had hid his face in his hands. Zack taped his shoulder and handed him another shot of lemon liquor. Although the alcohol was already making him feel all dizzy, he took the glass and emptied it. He dared to take a look at Sephiroth. The man had his head bowed, his face hidden by his bangs. As the commander was about to ask him if he wanted to add something, the man murmured:

- Cloud… You already know more than me. *sigh*  Zack, you deliberately set us up… Why? I thought you were my friend…

- Seph, stop right there. I /am/ your friend and yes, I set you up, only because you two need it. Those things are to be discussed in couple. You and Cloud are so shy… damn it's not healthy! I'll leave you a moment. Feel free to drink if you need it.

And Zack was gone, leaving Sephiroth and Cloud alone.

********

- You think it'll work, deary?

- It's already working, Kats, look at them!

Zack grinned. They had been inside the booth since an hour now, and Sephiroth had gotten out only to get them more drinks. The dark-haired man could had seen them talk, shyly at first, but the more they exchanged, the more it became fluid and easy, and the alcohol was in a way surely helping. He decided it was the time for them to give them the key of their room… He entered the booth, only to find out Sephiroth holding Cloud close to him, the blond obviously had passed out. Zack gave back the keys to Kats.

- Hey, what happened?

Sephiroth tilted his head and looked curiously at him.

- Nothin'. He jush wanted to gimme a kish, b-but heeee flopped on me!

Zack sighed. How would he drag those two at home?

*******

When Cloud woke up, he found out that someone was trying to undress him. He rolled over, but his head was spinning so much, he clung to the nearest thing, which appears to be Sephiroth's long silver hair. The man didn't stop however, and soon Cloud had only his boxers left.

- Shephy?, he slurred, Why're you stoppin'?

He was answered when two strong arms circled his waist and pulled him closer. Sephiroth sighed contentedly in the soft blond spikes and fell asleep. Cloud did the same. The next morning, he woke up alone in the bed, but accompanied by a headache as big as the Shinra Tower itself. He trudged to the bathroom, his goal fixed on the aspirin bottle, but a weird snoring sound forced Cloud to open his eyes. Sephiroth was dozing off on the rim of the bathtub, obviously the previous night's drinking had done a lot of damages on his system. Cloud devoured his aspirin before leaning over to run the water over the mess. Slowly, he crouched down and brushed the silver bangs off his lover's face, kissing softly his forehead. The General mewled pitifully, but didn't wake up, so Cloud picked him up and guided him to the bed.

- You ok?, Cloud whispered.

Sephiroth groaned and spooned closer to the warm body lying next to him, and both fell asleep again. They slept like that, entangled together until the late afternoon. It was Sunday, so none of them were working on that day. Sephiroth woke up to a sweet kiss from his golden angel. Cloud smiled and embraced him tightly.

- Are you better, now?

The silver-haired man nodded and returned the embrace. He was really feeling better, a little empty but better. He nuzzled the blond's chest, his senses awakening, the more he breathed, the more he wanted him. Cloud smelled good, his skin was smooth and the need was almost overwhelming. He started to massage the blond's back and remembered what Zack had told him before leaving him the night before. Tickles, caresses, kisses… explore each other… try and learn, and when you'll both feel ready, well, let your instincts guide you. Sephiroth had now sure an idea of what were the instincts… The strange stirring in his loins was /commanding/ him to take Cloud, who seemed very eager to be taken. The blond had understood the unspoken demand, moaning as Sephiroth brought his tongue into play, kissing and licking his way up to his lips. The silver-haired man was now pressed against the smaller boy, hungrily devouring him.

Aimer, c'est c'qu'il y a de plus beau

Aimer, c'est monter si haut

Et toucher les ailes des oiseaux

Aimer, c'est c'qu'il y a de plus beau

Instincts, feelings, warmth… A powerful dance, love. In one fluid movement, Sephiroth had them both naked. Cloud took his turn and sat up to kiss his angel on the lips, letting his fingers roll delicately his nipples, licking and nipping at the soft skin until he reached the ear.

- Sephy… Touch me again, like you did the other day… Make me scream your name, I want to go crazy, take me, angel, I'm yours.

Cloud backed off a little to gaze into deep emeralds, and, tears straining their faces, they embraced each other, kissing with a fiery passion, lost in a sea of love and trust, feelings swirling around each other, bodies and souls on the verge of merging into one. Sephiroth tipped over Cloud, grinding their hardened members together, to what the blond responded with a harsh cry, tightening his grip on the silver-haired man's shoulders. It was blissful.

Aimer, c'est voler le temps Aimer, c'est rester vivant Et brûler au cœur d'un volcan Aimer, c'est c'qu'il y a de plus grand

Cloud was hissing and crying out under the sweet kisses that Sephiroth kept showering on him. The silver hair was suddenly taken into hand, a relative relief to the torture, and Sephiroth purred. Never, ever had he let someone else than him touch his hair, but Cloud's hands had a calming and soothing effect on him, it felt good, it felt right. The silver-haired man bucked his hips, watching with delight Cloud arch and he took the opportunity to grab a pink nipple gently with his teeth. Again, the lithe body under him rose up in the air, desire seeping through his moans.

- Yesssssssssss! Aaaaah! Sephy! Now! Take me now! Aaaaammmph!

Sephiroth had silenced him with a kiss.

- How… Tell me…

Aimer, c'est plus fort que tout Donner le meilleur de nous Aimer, c'est sentir son cœur Aimer, pour avoir moins peur

Cloud petted gently his hair, returning the kiss with the same passion.

- Prepare me first, I remember Zack talking about that… Lotion… Don't you have any nearby?

Sephiroth stretched his arm and opened the drawer of the nightstand. Few seconds later, he retrieved a small bottle of massage oil.

- And now?

- Dip your fingers in…

Cloud lay back on the bed and guided Sephiroth's hand to his entrance.

- Won't I hurt you?

- I love you, Sephiroth… You won't hurt me. I want you…

The silver-haired man stopped arguing and pressed himself against that heated skin, circling with care the small opening, slowly inserting one finger in. Cloud gasped, his constant moans had turned into melting purrs. That finger inside of him was feeling awesome, he did not feel any pain, Sephiroth was carefully stretching him and in the process he grazed a very sensible spot. Cloud couldn't help himself: he cried out in sheer ecstasy. The man over him seemed to understand and he grazed that area again, getting a similar cry in return. Sephiroth was beginning to lose his grasp on reality, all he wanted was to feel the bliss with Cloud. He slipped another finger in, and the blond arched fiercely, embracing tightly his neck. His constant moans, purrs and cries voiced his needs, and soon the silver-haired General could take no more of this. He retrieved his fingers and coated his painfully hard member with oil before pulling up Cloud onto his lap. The blond panted heavily, burying his head into the soft silver hair, feeling himself being slowly filled. It was stinging, but hell if he cared. Sephiroth pushed up carefully, sheathing himself into Cloud.

- Cloud… Y'feel good…

He almost didn't recognized his voice, there was so much passion seeping through it… Liquid fire was running into his veins, much more intense than Mako, but much sweeter. They stayed entangled like that a few minutes, listening to each other's ragged breathing until Cloud pulled Sephiroth on top of him, falling back on the mattress. And the dance began.

Aimer, c'est brûler ses nuits

Aimer, c'est payer le prix

Et donner un sens à sa vie

Aimer, c'est brûler ses nuits

Cloud couldn't do anything else than scream Sephiroth's name. The wildfire was consuming them, they were merging into one… And soon a blinding flash send them over the edge, all the passion held in check exploded. Sephiroth wrapped his arms around Cloud and lifted him as he released himself. The blond was holding on to him for dear life, panting, licking and kissing the soft skin of his neck.

Those feelings… Powerful, simply too powerful… My heart's gonna blow up… Sephiroth tightened his embrace and winced when he felt his spent organ slip out of Cloud. He had been so caught up in this heavenly bliss, all seemed so perfect, that the silver-haired General started to wonder… why he hadn't felt that way before. But his thoughts were suddenly taken away as a smooth hand began to scratch the back of his neck. Heaven…

Aimer…

- Cloud…, he started, Would you believe me, if I was saying that I never felt this way before? I-I never felt… wanted… Do you really want me, Cloud?

Cloud stopped what he was doing and embraced tightly Sephiroth.

- Sephiroth… It must have been terribly difficult for you to think that way all the time… Cheer up, I'm not leaving you. Let's go take a bath, and after we could just have a sweet diner, just you and me?

- Just… Hold me a little longer…

End Author's notes Gosh! First time! Always too sort… Anyway. I hope you like the story, I'm supposed to go home next week-end. I will try to update shower time. Thanks to all my supporters! And what do you think: should I make a short sequel to 'peace upon us… please?' staring Angel, Zack, Sky, Squall, Laguna and Seifer? And please take note that my jenovaproject e-mail is out of commission for a reason that I ignore… please e-mail me to arl_jgg@hotmail.com. Thanks! Next chapter: The goner.