Mama Rose's chicken broth
Zack was observing Cloud in the kitchen. He was digging in the bags, cutting and chopping the vegetables until they weren't too big. The broth was smelling wonderful, now all they had to do was to wait until it thickens. The blond added a mix of spices, one pinch of that, two spoons of this…
- Hey, you don't even need a recipe! Where did you learn?
Cloud moved to the couch and sat down.
- It's a long story, Zack…
********
I will never forget that day… It was not long after my dad died. Maybe three month or so, I was just turning six, I think. I had woken up very early that day and mother wasn't up yet, so I went into her bedroom… I shook her again and again, but she wasn't waking up. I did the only thing I could. I cried. Loud. I was afraid that my mother was gone, just like father. And then I felt someone picking me up.
********
- Mommy!!!!!! Mooooooomy!!!!!
Madam Lockheart picked up the small toddler to rock him a little, but the blond was hysterical. He was crying to keep his mom from leaving him alone. She bent down to check on Rose; she had a fever.
- Shhh… Shh… Your mommy's all right, she's just sick a little.
- *sniffle* She's… all right? *sniffle* *sniffle* But daddy! Daddy didn't wake up! He's gone! *sniffle* I wanna see daddy… Mommy! Whaaaaaa!!!
- Your mommy is not gone, Cloud… Poor little boy, she'll wake up in a few…
Rose then did wake up and Cloud jumped in her arms, crying…
*******
- Mother had caught a cold. But when she realised she scared me to death… Mother felt so bad she decided to taught me how to make her secret broth. She used a colour code for the different ingredients, numbers for the quantities. I knew how to count already, I was smart, you know. The first times she helped me , but after I was able to do it all by myself.
Zack nodded. The two chatted a while, until Cloud decided his broth was ready. He put a small amount into a bowl and then brought it to Sephiroth. He woke up very confused and drank with a lot of efforts the salty liquid before dozing off again. The blond bent down to check his neck, since a few hours now the ganglions had swelled even if the fever was slowly going down, and this started to worry Cloud. However, if it was a bad case of flu, it was normal, so… He closed the lights on his way out, leaving Sephiroth to rest.
The rest of the day was calm, mainly because Zack left, and the blond passed the time studying, reading his novels and watching TV. Between his light diner and the shower, he went to check on Sephiroth. His lover was fast asleep but obviously in pain, his muscles were sometimes twitching and his brow formed a perpetual frown. He fed him with some more broth, wiping the sweat glistening on his forehead with a damp cloth. Come on, Seph… You should already be better by now… Don't keep me worried for too long… He pulled the covers over his head, laying next to his love. He slept very lightly that night…
And had a very good reason to. In fact, somewhere near 2:00 am, Cloud woke up suddenly as Sephiroth doubled over the bed, body racked by a heaving fit. The blond immediately grabbed the washcloth, putting over the General's mouth, then he quickly dragging him to the bathroom where he left him a moment in front of the toilet. He came back seconds later with a glass of cold water.
- Just wait here, I'm gonna change the sheets, okay?
Sephiroth didn't respond, all he could do was heave, only expulsing blood and bile in fits that ravaged his body. Cloud came back with his bathrobe, muffling him into it when he had calmed down. The blond forced some water into his mate and lay him on the floor. Doing so, he passed a hand on his lower back. Sephiroth howled in pain, collapsing on his side.
- Sephiroth!
********
Professor Hojo was observing some very important specimen. Adjusting his glasses, he looked dispassionately as the small animal jerked under the electric shocks. He scribbled down some notes and was preparing his instruments for the dissection when Aranson barged in.
- Professor! Professor! We need help!
- What is it!, he snapped, I specifically commanded to be disturbed only for an extreme emergency!
- We have an emergency! The General, sir! The General is extremely sick!
- WHAT!?! It is impossible!
The Professor followed his assistant to the reception room. His eyes went wide as saucers when he saw his most prized specimen unconscious on a medical table. He immediately grabbed the thermometer and put it in his patient's mouth before checking his eyes with a small flash light. When he retired the small tube, his face alone could tell that what he thought was impossible just proved to be possible. Sephiroth's fever was nearing 40,5 degrees. Rummaging through the cabinets, he got out a little capped bottle and filled a syringe with it, plunging it in his patient's forearm afterward.
- Since when he's like that?
- About half an hour, sir.
The sound of that voice made Hojo turn around to face the young student of the General. The Professor felt the swelled glands under the neck, frowning, and he asked when the first symptoms appeared.
- Yesterday morning, sir. It was just a fever, then, but now he brings up bile and blood and his back seems to hurt a lot, sir.
- Mmm… That's not good, not good at all…
- Professor! The blood tests for poison are all negatives! However, it seems that the disease spread into the bloodstream and—
- Start to cleanse it immediately and prepare him for a surgery! I want to have a look at the kidneys…
- Yes, Professor.
Cloud was brushed away as the scientists busied themselves with the General. Hojo checked his pulse and inserted a IV in his wrist. Mickael Aranson covered Sephiroth's nose with a breathing mask, undressing the man and started to disinfect the skin with a yellow paste. Then, with a sly smirk, he rolled the metal table to the surgery room.
*******
Tseng was walking through the sector five slum, following a dark-haired woman from a distance. Since he had gotten the photo from Reno, the investigation was much easier, and he had managed, with a little effort and cash, to trace back 'Arleen'. She had indeed worked at the 'Honey Bee Inn' for a while, but after her first encounter with the President Shinra, she had quit and settled herself in what could be called down in the slums, a pretty apartment, where she gave birth to her son. Now she was living with another woman, so Tseng was waiting the moment she would be alone to confront her.
Arleen climbed up some stairs and unlocked the door of her home, and the Wutaian circled the building, found a cracked window, picked it and slipped inside. He waited in the shadows, waited until the woman switched the lights on. She yelped when she saw him and the Wutaian cut the passage back to the door.
- Miss Arleen, I presume? If Arleen is your real name, I think we have to talk…
- Talk about what, Turk? I've got nothing to tell you!, she retorted angrily
- I'm thinking otherwise, miss. I need to know some very important information about your relationship with the President, and this, from the start. I want to see your ID card.
- No! I wont tell you ANYTHING!!!
Tseng didn't have the time to react when the woman swallowed two pills that were in her bag. She jerked few seconds later and fell lifelessly to the ground. The Wutaian didn't even bothered to check on her pulse; she was dead for sure. Cyanide. However, the Turk did find her ID card, and the name on it just raised a slight doubt in his mind.
- Takane H. Kubinaye… I have to go back to the HQ... Something tells me that she's more involved in this mess than I previously thought.
********
A far away voice was calling him. Far away, but nonetheless familiar. Sephiroth felt his senses coming back to him slowly and his eyes opened. All he could see was a blur of white light flashing constantly.
- We're taking you back home, sir. Just stay still so you don't hurt yourself.
Everything seemed to clear up after this, and he realised he was on a stretcher. Zack was at his side, pushing it with Aranson and Cloud. He felt dizzy and sick so he closed his eyes again to return into the blackness. Cloud was there, Cloud would take care of him, Cloud… Cloud…, the name echoed in his mind like a mantra, lulling him back to sleep. He could hear gasps and murmurs, but he was far too tired and confused to care about them.
The next thing he was aware of was that a sweet aroma floated in the air. Sephiroth also noticed that he was in his bed, a lot of pillows were propped behind him so he was very comfortable. His system was now free of the disease, no excessive efforts were required to move his arms normally. The heat was good, as good as the hand stroking his hair, providing a blissful comfort. Sephiroth sighed in contentment and leaned into the touch.
- Sephiroth? Are you awake?
- Yeah…, his voice was raspy and his throat dry, … Flowers?…
- Zack's girlfriend gave them to you. They're absolutely lovely, eh, just like you.
He suddenly felt a warm weight over him and he caught a glimpse of gold as Cloud buried his face into his neck. Sephiroth passed an arm around the blond's waist weakly, holding his lover there, and, hearing his even breathing, he realised Cloud was asleep. Sephiroth smiled and let the darkness claim him again, as long as he was with Cloud, he was safe.
*******
Alan Parkson… Toko Jamesion… Dimitri Riley… What do they have in common? Why are they dead? Is it just a coincidence or had they been chosen to die? It's strange, somehow, I think Riley should not be there… Tseng thought as he looked at the three names displayed on his computer screen. So far, he only had this, and Takane Kubinaye to rely them all, but he couldn't find anything in the Shinra files. The fact that she committed suicide didn't help, either. There was also that mysterious disease that Sephiroth had caught recently, but Reno was sure that Aranson had poisoned him somehow, while he was watching the preparation of the bal… The fact that the same Aranson was in charge of the blood tests just added to the suspicions. That and the sabotage of the tank n.9. Mikael Aranson, Alan Parkson, Toko Jamesion, Dimitri Riley… and Takane Kubinaye…
- Dimitri… That's a shame he died, said Reno, He could have become an awfully good Turk, I tell ya. The boy was awesome with a gun, a born sniper.
- Did you find anything on the others?
- No. Not even the causality report. The files have all been erased. The woman, though, was arrested a few times. For what? Impossible to know… Seems someone had covered her very well.
- Still, tell me what you know about them.
Reno sat in the chair facing his boss, scratching his neck.
- Mmm… Jamesion supposedly died in Wutai and was an expert in materia. Parkson… I can't tell you anything, because I don't know him. Arleen, I heard of her in the 'Honey Bee Inn', but at that time, I was more attracted by the blondes… Aranson. Aranson. My instincts are telling me to watch this twerp very closely. He was there when the sabotage occurred, he was distracting me while I was watching the caterer crew for the bal… More, he is in reach of all poisons that are kept in the labs…
- I already made a little investigation on this, and Hojo confirmed that at least three samples of Miniki extracts are missing, along with a lot of tranquilizers vials. Reno, I was you to do two things: I want you to keep an eye on everything he does and search for those missing vials. I'm counting on you. On my side, I'll try to find the blood sample… and those damned files.
The redhead nodded, but instead of going directly to his task, he walked behind the desk and pulled Tseng into a tight embrace. The Wutaian returned the embrace, taking a deep breath, drowning his senses in this spicy scent, he knew they wouldn't be together before a long, long time. Sparkling green eyes looked at him and he smiled warmly, closing the gap between them to taste those sweet lips, enjoying every pleasure sound Reno made. Both of them almost jumped out their skin when the door of Tseng's office opened on Rude. The bald man's eyes went wide as saucers when he caught them in liplock. Turning a deep shade of crimson, he just stammered that he would come back later before closing the door hurriedly.
- Well, where were we…? Asked innocently Reno
- Shut up…
Both tumbled on the floor, entangled together…
********
- B-but I'm not that-
- Your body must recuperate, Sephiroth. You're not going to leave the bed, not until you finish your medicine. And if you're a good General, then maybe I'll spoil you!
That did the trick, and the silver-haired man stopped arguing. Cloud winked and propped the pillows behind him a little, kissing his forehead lovingly. The blond was so caring about his mate's health that he had made a lot of broth for him, and as he was leaving for the kitchen, the brownies were baking… It hasn't been that difficult. Just follow the recipe… Cloud was proud; his love /would/ be spoiled. However, before he could leave Sephiroth at his rest, the man called him.
- Cloud, you forgot something…
- Oh yeah… Sorry, love.
Cloud went back to the bed, bending over to meet his lover's lips.
End
Author's notes
*Run around the small apartment with cough syrup and pills* Oh Crap! Holy Crap! My bishies caught cold!!! And my e-mail too! Waaaaaaaaaaaa! The program running my e-mail account on jenovaproject.com got blasted! For good… So from now on, please e-mail me at arl_jgg@hotmail.com. *blown away by Sephiroth's sneezing*
Sephiroth: Sowwy… *sniff*
Cloud: Raaaa… *cough, sneeze, sneeze and sneeze again*
*Tries to get down from the ceiling* I'm coming! Damn winter… Just remember to e-mail me at my new address, ok? Good. Now don't go outside to do dirty things if you don't want to end up like Seph and Cloud… Hell Nwing! Can you help me here? Next chapter: Crouching beast.