Love letter
The ceiling was white, with dark grey spots there and there, but nonetheless white. A dull, numbing white. The wall wasn't bad, either. Darker than the ceiling, less bright, but still as numbing… His thought were floating into a sort of jelly, sinking deeper and deeper until they were just jammed. He felt nothing, stopped feeling anything since he came back, since he felt the ravaging pain that gripped his heart. Nothing could compare to the emptiness…
- Zack! Come on! General Sephiroth wants you in his office by the minute!
The prone form lying on the bed didn't move an inch, if only to lift his arm and put it over his head. Time passed. He did not care. Minutes, hours, days, he couldn't count. He didn't want to see anyone. But the door did open and a very careful Cloud stepped into the dark apartment.
- Zack?, he said softly, Oh, God, Zack…
The dark-haired man didn't respond. Cloud put something on the table before walking up to the bed. A hand was gently laid on his forehead, and Cloud gasped. He hadn't heard this before, never witnessed it, but it seemed that Zack was very hurt emotionally. He had dark circles under the eyes, and even developed a fever. Taking a deep breath, Cloud sat down near him, gently petting his unruly hair.
- Zack… you can't go on like that… Look at me. Please.
The Commander rolled over and looked at Cloud. He was pitiful. The lack of light in his eyes reflected his sorrow.
- What do y'want to see… Go 'way…
- I wanted to see you, I was worried. Seph, too, and Lionel, your squad, your friends, even Kats called… Do you realize it's been four days you're in there?
Zack rolled back to face the wall, mumbling incomprehensible things.
- Sephiroth have something for you and must give it to you personally… Just wait here, I'll send him, okay?
- Don't want to see anybody…
- You'll change your mind, believe me. Oh, and I brought you food.
Indeed after a few more minutes later Sephiroth did stepped in, a worried look on his face as he sat too on the bed. Zack did nothing else than close his eyes. They snapped open, though, when he felt Sephiroth sitting him up and pull him into a warm embrace.
- You showed me this, Zackary, you showed me friendship. It's my turn, now, to be there for you. Don't say anything, yet. Get up, take a shower and then I'll give you a cheering present, or so I hope.
Zack arched an eyebrow at him, but the General added in a soft tone that it was an order. The Commander nodded and did as he was told. When he got out, Sephiroth handed him a small envelope with his name on it. A fine writing, a woman's writing… The dark-haired man took it with shaky hands, opening it with emotion. After a while he just slumped on the ground, clutching the sheet of paper possessively. Sephiroth smiled, sitting down next to his friend, asking him if everything would be alright.
- She says she's sorry… wants to see me again. But I don't understand the rest.
- I'm happy for you, then, that it was indeed good news. Otherwise, me and Cloud would have had to shake you up a little, I think. Zack, do you know you scared the hell out of him when you left? And you had me worried sick today, when Cloud came to get me, he told me you were unwell… I almost ran up here and I see that he was right on one point. You still need rest. Will you be alright now?
Zack nodded, trudging to his bed. Suddenly his eyelids weighed tons and he fell right into Sephiroth's arms. The silver-haired man wanted his Commander to sleep soundly for at least one day before doing anything else, so he had used a sleep spell on him. Carefully, he lay him back on the mattress, discarding the sheets already there to replace them by the spare set. Having him cosily installed, he returned to his office.
********
Something was gnawing at his mind, a constant whisper… Trying to infiltrate his soul, trying to break him apart. He was frozen, but his body moved without his accord. The voice was suddenly louder, demanding, commanding, acting on it's free will, that sheer mental strength was too powerful for him to handle. He had lost. But he was still resisting to his total submission.
- Hate him, hate him, hate him…, she sneered
Sephiroth gave out everything he had left. Instead of strangling the blond, like she wanted, he cradled him tenderly. He had won over her, but he knew it wouldn't last long. They made love, slept entwined in each other's arms. Then she returned. She thrust her tentacles inside of him, forced him to abandon his love in the middle of the snowstorm.
- You disobeyed… You shall suffer! SUFFER!
********
Sephiroth stumbled down the bed, trembling all over. His heart was racing inside his chest, beating so fiercely he feared it would jump out. He stayed there, breathing hard until Cloud called him weakly.
- Seph…, he groaned, y'alright?
- Just… a nightmare… a dream, that's all…
- Again…? AaAAAAH! AAAH!
Cloud turned on his side, grabbing his throbbing head. He was awake since an hour, now, trying to ignore the dull pain, while his mate dreamed. He hadn't noticed it was a bad one, not before Sephiroth fell. And it seemed that the only words he pronounced triggered a painful migraine. The silver-haired man was quickly by his side, and murmured a few words.
- …Sleepel…
But it didn't work. Cloud continued to writhe in pain. He even started to feel sick and dizzy and before long was taken to the bathroom in a hurry. The General then took him on the couch, using a cold washcloth to soothe him. The pain only seemed to increase, and Cloud howled, burying himself into the cushions. The silver-haired man tried everything, brought him some ice, fed him his medicine… Nothing worked out. It lasted for the rest of the night, even with the help of the last resort medicine Dr. Cooper had prescribed. Finally, by the early morning, the throbbing had lessen enough to allow the sleep spell to work. Sephiroth put a soft pillow under Cloud's head, muffling him warmly into the quilt before going back into the bedroom to catch up some sleep. He slumped on his bed, rounding up the remnant sheets around him and he glanced at the alarm clock and groaned. 6:20 am. He had to get up in less than ten minutes…
- No, no, no, he quietly said to himself, They can live without me today… I have to stay with Cloud.
Green eyes quickly drifted shut, and Sephiroth returned into a deep sleep. He shouldn't enjoy his rest for a very long time. At 7:08 am, the door burst open and a very angry Professor Hojo stepped in, followed by Heidegger and he walked right into the bedroom, yanking the covers away to reveal a very sleeping General, who immediately searched with his hand a corner of sheet. Unfortunately for him, he grabbed firmly the Professor's labcoat and pulled, rolling over… and Hojo fell on his back. Sephiroth woke up with a start, backing off to the other end of the bed.
- What are you doing in my bed!, he squealed
- Why you!, Hojo yelled back, You're late! Get up and dress, the President doesn't like to wait!
The General weakly pulled back the sheets over him, crawled back to his pillow and lay back. Heidegger growled under his beard and the Professor immediately pulled out his stethoscope, starting to examine him. Sephiroth shivered on purpose, adding a voluntary hiss, trying to squirm away from those bony hands. Finally Hojo was convinced.
- How many times did I told you to come down immediately to the lab whenever it happens! You need a Mako treatment. Heidegger, tell the President the General isn't available for an indeterminate period. And /you/… don't you dare leaving that bed before I return!
The General waited for them to leave, cursing himself because he would get another Mako treatment, but he quickly dismissed it, knowing that the Professor wasn't willing to take a lot of chances with him, not since he got sick. I can't afford to get knocked off by him today… Cloud is too sick… Sephiroth yawned, and he realised he couldn't afford to sleep all day long, too… He breathed a deep sigh and closed his eyes once more.
********
When he woke up again, he could hear groans coming from the living room along with a very familiar voice. He tried to get up, but he found out that he couldn't. Hojo surely had come while he was sleeping, because he couldn't remember anything. Sephiroth rolled over and moaned pitifully. He gathered his strength and did get up, only to confirm that the scientist indeed came in. His forearm was marred with needle pricks. Walking quietly, his body only allowed him that speed, he tried to join Cloud but Zack stopped him.
- Whoa… Look who's there, Spike…, he said in a soft tone, Your lover just woke up! Hey Seph, you look, err, tired?
- Yeah… Damn Hojo. And Cloud? Is he okay?
- Better, yes, okay, no. He's still sick a little.
- No, I mean, his migraine…
- That's what he have?
- Mm-mm… Started in the middle of the night. Nothing worked, nothing…
- Sephy…
Sephiroth immediately walked up to the couch. Kneeling beside it, he gently passed a hand through the mop of tousled hair. Cloud closed his eyes and sighed, shaking under the quilt as his lover replaced the ice pack over his forehead. He gave him a peck on the cheek and stood, ordering him to sleep. Silently, he walked back to the kitchen, letting himself fall on a chair, Zack not far behind.
- Why are you here, Zack?
- Well, there is many answers to that… First, to bring you back that plate, second, because I saw Hojo get out of your quarters and third because of this little piece of paper…
Sephiroth arched an eyebrow, demanding explanation that Zack was more than pleased to give him. The notice said that in about two months the SOLDIER field test and the SOLDIER battle test would be held. The General smiled, his student was ready, and the tests should be a formality for him. He also took a mental note about increasing their daily hours of training. Since he got out of coma, Cloud was whining to train more, but Sephiroth wasn't taking any chances.
- Cloud will be happy, he's one of the best prospects this year, said Zack. Do you think he will be okay by then?
- Sure. Dr. Cooper said it will pass, giving him time. He must avoid major shocks, though.
- But why? What is triggering this?
- Nobody knows, but they think it's the fact he went comatose for a while, it may be sequels from the fall or his coma. Had he been very sick this morning?
- Not really, just one time, in fact. When I entered he was trying to go into the bedroom. Can you believe it? He was worried about you… Why did Hojo come in anyway?
So Sephiroth explained his second what happened the night before, how much he was tired, he decided that he would not work today. That Hojo and Heidegger barged in few minutes after 7:00 am, he managed to fake well enough to earn a Mako treatment. Zack chuckled and patted his friend's shoulder.
- Well, it's only 10:30. Why don't you go back to bed and sleep a little?
- I wanna have *yawn* an eye on Cloud…
The dark-haired man grabbed Sephiroth by the arm, guiding the sleepy man to his bedroom. He tucked him in without protestations. The Commander left for a moment to get some paperwork and settled himself in the living room. Someone had to make sure they were going to be okay, after all.
*******
- Cloudy! Cloud, breakfast is ready! C'mon, wake up!, a feminine voice called.
Cloud moved weakly in his bed, but otherwise, didn't do anything else. So far, all he could see was blurred, as if he was looking through a thick glass. He was hearing noise, but couldn't make out what it was. After a while, the youngster grasped his blanky and climbed down the mattress. But soon enough he was flopping on the ground and wailing.
- Cloud? Oh, Cloud! Are you hurt, sunshine? Shhh… Shhh…
Rose picked the three year-old toddler and rocked him in her arms, trying to calm him down. Cloud clung to his mother, sniffling and coughing so much that she started to worry. She grabbed a blanket and walked down to the living room, carrying her feverish son.
- Roman!
The blond, spiky-haired man stopped to stroke the fire when he heard his wife's worried tone. By seeing the bundle in her arms, he immediately understood. Cloud had fallen sick again. The third time this month… He quickly relieved Rose and took his son in his arms. He watched her leave the house in a hurry to get the doctor, sitting down in his armchair near the fireplace. He checked on Cloud's fever by kissing his forehead, frowning deeply.
- My sunshine… you're burning… Sleep, my boy, sleep, daddy will make it all better.
********
- Daddy…
Zack's head snapped up and he looked toward Cloud. He was trembling and whimpering. The dark-haired man worriedly walked to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
- Daddy…
- Cloud, wake up…
- Daddy…
Cloud turned on his back and grabbed Zack's hand. Pulled hard enough to bring him closer, trapping him there. The Commander, being in an awfully stuck up position, slid under him and, trying not to wake him up, pulled Cloud in his lap. The blond made just a feeble protest sound.
- Daddy Ro…
- *sigh* Cloud… Poor kid…
- He's doing it again…
Zack startled when he heard Sephiroth speak. The General walked up to the couch and, yawning, he picked up Cloud, allowing Zack to switch place with him. He installed his love cosily against him, under the amused look of his friend, ruffling gently the soft blonde spikes. The day passed, and by the evening Cloud had woken up, a little groggy, but better. Sephiroth had made him something easy to digest, and the blond was grateful for it. He was starving. Zack left them after telling them how it went with Aerith. Then Sephiroth scooped Cloud in his arms, taking him into the bathroom. The bath was steaming hot, a real heaven after a hard night…
End
Author's notes
Oh Goooooooooooooood!!!!! Sorry for the late update… I just bought 'legend of the dragoons' and 'Dark Cloud', so I played Playstation a lot, lately… I beg all of you to forgive your humble servant…*waits for flames………………………* ? No flames? No throwing of biiiiig things? Cool! Thanks a lot you guys!!! *walks back to her playstation* next chapter: Celebration. *Get knocked off by a microwave thrown from behind* *spasms on the ground* ouch… …That…… was mean… Aaawww… *twitches*