Cloud let out a soft moan as he sat up, his head aching. Looking around, he slowly became aware of the world around him. The party...the reactor...Shit now I remember...he thought, rubbing his head. I got drunk and passed out...after Zax...He wore his nightshirt and boxers, laying on the ground covered by a blanket and surrounded by empty bottles. Nearby, Zax snored loudly, still out from his fifteen bottles of wine. Sephiroth was nowhere to be seen.
Slowly he stood, trying not to fall as the world around him spun. A cool draft made cloud shiver, the breeze coming from the staircase nearby. Wrapping the blanket around him, Cloud trudged up the stairs in search of Sephiroth. The mansion was dark as the midnight moon hid behind a cloud. But he continued on towards the piano room, where he guessed Sephiroth was. The blonde sighed to himself as he entered.
Sephiroth sat at the bay window, staring out the night with his legs stretched across the window seat, his back leaning on the wall. He wore only a pair of black pants, his long hair in a loose ponytail tied with a black ribbon. Hearing Cloud enter, he turned to face the blonde. His eyes held no emotion as Cloud approached him.
"You can't sleep?" Cloud asked, standing nearby.
"I choose not to," replied Sephiroth, staring outside once more. "After sleeping for five years, I'm not really tired."
"Oh..."
Cloud let the silence fall over them, wandering what the man beside him was thinking. Saying nothing, Cloud sat down in the free space near Sephiroth's feet and leaned against the cold glass, holding his blanket closer. A slight uneasiness went over Cloud, the silence becoming almost too heavy.
"Did you dream?" the blonde finally asked. "When you were in the pod...did you dream?"
"I dreamt..." Sephiroth answered without turning.
The tone Sephiroth used told Cloud the older male preferred the silence. Sighing to himself, Cloud glanced at him. Sephiroth hugged his arms to his chest, goose bumps played on his skin. "Cold?" Cloud asked curiously.
"No." His answer was obviously a lie as he rubbed his arms a bit. "I'm fine."
Cloud made a face at him. "Don't be such an asshole. Here." He handed Sephiroth the blanket. "Its still warm. Take it."
"No," Sephiroth spoke flatly. "I don't need it. Besides, you'll get cold after a while."
"Take it, damn it," Cloud shoved the blanket into Sephiroth's hands. "I'll live."
"I don't want the damn blanket." Sephiroth sat up and pushed the wad of cloth back to Cloud. "I don't need it."
"Don't lie to me. I saw you shivering. Now take the piece of shit!"
"For the last time, Cloud, I don't need it!"
"Take the fucking blanket!"
Not thinking, Cloud unfolded the blanket and tackled Sephiroth, pinning him to the window seat and covering him with the blanket. The blonde sat on his prisoner's waist, reducing the silver-haired man's struggling.
"Get off me!" Sephiroth growled, pushing Cloud away.
Cloud sat back, releasing the one-winged angel a bit. "Why are you so fucking defensive?" Cloud asked darkly. "I was only trying to help. And its not like I have my sword with me. You know how much of a fucking pansy I am without it."
"Its just how I am," Sephiroth answered, hugging himself as if he were blocking Cloud's energy and emotions. "I've been hurt...by so many people. I've become so defensive, blocking out everyone..."
A soft sigh of regret passed through Cloud, seeing and sensing Sephiroth's sadness. "I'm...I'm sorry...I didn't know." He shook his head. "There's so much I don't know...about you."
"Just forget it..." muttered Sephiroth. "Its not like it really matters...just another reason to hate me..."
"That's not true!" Cloud answered quickly. "I don't hate you!" Sephiroth looked up at him with wide, cat-like glowing teal eyes that made Cloud's heart ache with a strange emotion. "You can piss me off at times, but I don't completely hate you, Sephiroth."
Turning away from Cloud's kind sapphire eyes, Sephiroth was grateful the dim lighting hid his blush. The red paint vanished as he thought of something. "Liar...I killed Aeris...You hate me for that...Its one of the reasons you were after me in the first place."
Cloud bit his bottom lip, knowing Sephiroth spoke the truth. He started at the ground, searching for an answer as to why his hate and anger towards Sephiroth had faded into almost nothing. "I...I can't explain it..." he whispered, unsure if Sephiroth heard. "But...my hate and anger...it's gone..."
"Lucky," muttered Sephiroth. "Hate and anger are the only emotions I know..." He sat up, then slid down to sit on the floor. "Its hard to change..."
"You should try to be less defensive and open up to people...Maybe people will like you more if you weren't such a jackass. Be a bit nicer."
Sephiroth chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he reached for his nearby cloak and dug through it to retrieve a box of Pocky. "Want one?" he asked, looking up at Cloud.
A soft smile crossed Cloud's face as he shrugged and sat beside Sephiroth, accepting an offered chocolate Pocky. He didn't eat it though as he watched Sephiroth nibble away at the treat in the corner of his eye. Once more, Cloud's heart ached with a strange emotion he could almost name.
"Hey...Sephiroth? Can I ask a question?"
The silver-haired man glanced at Cloud before he could start eating a second Pocky stick. "I guess. What's your question?"
Saying nothing, Cloud moved closer and held Sephiroth's chin with a gently hand, pulling him closer. Finally, their faces met in a passionate kiss. It was a long, warm kiss neither wanted to end. Cloud again scooted closer, now sitting in Sephiroth's lap as he deepened the kiss. He felt Sephiroth become tense then relax as Cloud held him tightly, the elder's face becoming warm as their bodies came in close contact.
Sephiroth didn't struggle, though, Cloud noticed. The blonde could feel his prisoner breathe deeply as he released the kiss. The two men sighed, opening their eyes. Cloud could taste a bit of chocolate on his tongue from Sephiroth's sweet kiss. For a moment, neither said anything.
Cloud broke the silence. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, seeing so many emotions in Sephiroth's eyes. "I don't know why I just did that but..."
The elder placed a finger on the blonde's lips, silencing him. "Don't worry about it..." He closed his eyes, leaning back. "We'll just blame it on the drinks and deny this ever happened."
"Deny? Its not like we did anything," Cloud shrugged. "It was just a kiss..."
"Just a kiss?" He shook his head, ignoring the fact Cloud still sat on his legs. "That...that was my first kiss..."
A slight paint of blush decorated Cloud's face. "I'm sorry...Its just...I felt so...comfortable...with doing that." The blonde lifted a hand to rub his head. "Maybe this is why I couldn't kill you...because I fell in..."
He was cut off by Sephiroth, who silenced Cloud with a hand on the blonde's mouth. "Say you fell in love with me and I swear I will kill you in the worst way I can think of."
Cloud pulled Sephiroth's hand from his face. "Why? Is that what you're afraid of? Being loved and cared for by someone?"
"I'm not afraid!" Sephiroth snapped.
"No," Cloud smiled. "You're right. You aren't afraid at all. The way you kissed back...You enjoyed it." Even in the dim lighting, Cloud could see Sephiroth blush a deep crimson. "Its not like we're lovers or anything...it was just a kiss."
"Really now..." Sephiroth muttered darkly. "You should practice what you preach...You were the one who came to me and you made the 'first move'. I think you want us to be lovers."
Without warning, Cloud pushed Sephiroth onto the floor, pinning the man's shoulders down. Cloud sat over Sephiroth's waist still, the silver-haired man now laying under him and unable to wiggle free. "I could fuck you now Sephiroth, if I wanted," Cloud hissed. "Don't think I don't know how or that I wouldn't..."
Sephiroth's eyes glittered the way they did during their final battle. They showed no emotion at all as he stared past Cloud. The blonde's heart raced in his chest, throbbing with a forbidden love for the angel under him. It was as if Sephiroth were bracing himself for Cloud's next move.
Cloud saw his err and greatly regretted his last words. "Forgive me...I didn't mean to sound so harsh," Cloud whispered, leaning down for another kiss.
"Hey...could you guys keep it down? Some of us are trying to...Holy shit! What the fuck is going on?!"
Turning, Cloud saw Zax standing in the doorway, his face a glowing red. The blonde started to stand. "Zax, its not what you think!" Cloud exclaimed, blushing.