Zax paced the bedroom as Cloud sat on the nearby bed. "I can't believe you!" the dark-haired man shouted. "You nearly raped poor Sephy!"
Cloud winced; grateful Sephiroth was in the soundproof basement resting in the coffin-bed. "Listen Zax. Its not like we did anything. I just kissed him, we said some stuff, he pissed me off, I pushed him over, then you entered."
"You kissed him?!" Zax gripped Cloud's tank top and shook him violently. "I can't believe you, you fucking gay fag! Sephiroth's a virgin!"
The blonde's face became a bright red. "Dude, I did not need to know that!"
"Besides," Zax ignored Cloud, "its not right for two straight guys to do stunts like that! I mean, Sephiroth's as straight as a fucking arrow and you I've never been too sure about until now..."
"It was just a kiss!" Cloud defended. "Its not like we're lovers or anything! We were both drunk and he was all depressed...So we fucking kissed! Geeze...are you homophobic or what?!"
Glaring at Cloud, Zax let go of the blonde's shirt. "I'm going to check on Sephiroth. The poor guy probably go the shit scared out of him from that..." With that, Zax left Cloud alone in the dark room.
Sighing, Cloud laid down in the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Why do I keep saying that? he thought, closing his eyes. That it was nothing more than just a kiss...There was something between us...I know it! I felt the way he kissed back. There was loneliness in him...the need for love was strong within him. And he didn't struggle. If he had at least attempted to fight back, I would have let him go. Sephiroth knew it, but he didn't struggle. He placed a hand over his hurting heart, aching at the thought of the kiss. For a guy who's never been kissed...never been loved before...he's a good kisser...
The sound of moving cloth was caught by Cloud's keen ears. He sat up quickly only to get caught from behind by a pair of strong arms; a hand over his mouth held his head while a second arm wrapped around Cloud's arms and chest to immobilize him.
"Bad move Cloud," Sephiroth's dark voice whispered in his ear. "Dropping your guard like that...I could have slit your throat."
Slowly, Sephiroth released his prisoner and sat down near the foot of the bed. "Sephiroth, you bastard!" Cloud cursed in a whisper. "Zax just went to check on you! Did you know he was homophobic?"
Sephiroth shrugged, wearing a black night robe, his silver hair in a messy bun. "Never really thought about that...My mind has been elsewhere."
Cloud gave him a funny look. "Elsewhere?"
A soft sigh passed through Sephiroth as he nodded his head. "I'm worried. Something about Jenova's disappearance has me thinking destroying these reactors is a bad idea. If she's free...she'll be after more than just Mako energy."
"What do you mean? What's going on?"
"Before you released me from the Mako pod, Aeris came to me in a dream." Cloud looked into Sephiroth's eyes with wide sapphires. "She told me that the threat to all that lives will regenerate and destroy all that stands for peace and light...after consuming those who hold her cells within them."
His words hit Cloud hard, the blonde almost unsure if it was all just a nightmare. "Consume? As in eat?"
"Eat, devour, absorb, consume...No matter how you put it, she's not happy and she's in the mood to start some chaos," Sephiroth put in a calm manner that gave Cloud chills.
"Do you have an idea of what she's up to? I mean, her plans...what are they?"
Again Sephiroth sighed. "I don't know...I'm too weak to enter her mind like I used to be able to, when I was her puppet. Jenova may try to get me by controlling you, but I'm not sure." He shook his head. "There are so many things I'm unsure of now..."
"Its okay," Cloud half-smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Sephiroth's shoulder. "You're doing what you can to help. And knowing about the threat of Jenova will help me stay on guard. Besides, I want to get to Golden Saucer soon. Seeing Zax do a dance dressed as a girl is really going to help relieve some stress."
"Tell me about it..." Sephiroth muttered. He chuckled at a sudden thought. "Maybe we should sell tickets for it...It'll help pay for the drinks Zax bought."
Cloud laughed a bit at the idea, a slight blush painting his cheeks. "You should smile a bit more," he said out of the blue. "It's a lot better than seeing you glare at everything all the time."
Sephiroth smiled shyly, blushing a bit as well. "Maybe..." He turned from Cloud, standing. "I'll let you sleep now...you're probably tired."
"Wait..." Sephiroth stopped and glanced at Cloud over his shoulder. The blonde felt himself blush even more. "Could...could you...sleep with me?"
"I beg your pardon?!" Sephiroth asked, wide-eyed and bright red.
"I don't mean sleep with me in that way..." Cloud attempted to explain. "I mean...stay beside me...In case Jenova decides to try to control me. We'll be able to react quicker and stop her." He shook his head. "I sound like a girl..."
A kind smile crossed Sephiroth's face as he sat down beside Cloud. "Not at all." The man ran a hand through Cloud's golden spikes. "Just try to sleep. Don't worry about me, alright?"
Nodding his head, Cloud lay down in the bed and covered himself with the warm blankets, closing his eyes. He felt a gentle hand brush a lock of hair from his forehead as a hummed tune from earlier that day lulled him into a deep sleep.
***
"Cloud! You fucking faggot! Get out of bed you damn bastard! You too Sephiroth! You two will be the fucking death of me..."
The blonde flinched at Zax's tone, keeping his eyes closed to block out the morning rays of the sun. Lying still, he ignored Zax's rants. Suddenly, Zax grabbed hold of the blankets and ripped them off the bed. Cloud braced himself for the sudden cold, but there was a strange warmth on his back and waist.
"Will you two get up already?! I'm going to fucking hurl..." Zax sighed. "I'll be in the kitchen making breakfast if anybody needs me..." Muttering a few curses, Zax left.
"Two?"
It was then Cloud opened his eyes and realized what kept him warm was a human body. He slowly rolled over to face Sephiroth, the older man still sleeping soundly. Cloud sighed to himself, unsure if he should get up or stay. No...Cloud thought to himself. He stayed with me...so I'll stay with him.
"Zax isn't going to be happy if he comes in again," Sephiroth spoke without opening his eyes.
Cloud nearly fell out of the bed in surprise. "Asswipe! You were faking the entire time!"
Sephiroth shrugged, sitting up. "You slept well without any problems." He lifted a hand, pulling the pins that kept his hair in a bun out and letting his long locks fall. "I think you slept better when I joined you. You stopped mumbling in your sleep."
"Mumbling? I talked in my sleep?"
The man nodded his head. "I couldn't understand what you said, but yes, you talked in your sleep." He stood and went to his cloak nearby. "I'll be in the shower if you need anything."
"Alright. I'll go tell Zax we're up."
Getting out of bed, Cloud went to leave the room. The mansion was cool from the fall air outside, but Cloud didn't mind it. Reaching the kitchen, he glanced in. "Heya Zax," Cloud greeted him. "What are you making?"
"Oh...You're finally up," smiled Zax cheerfully. "Triple-thick omelets for the journey. I checked the Shinra scanner this morning." His smile faded into a look of concern. "Our secret's out, Cloud. Shinra's begun their hunt for us."
"Shit..." Cloud muttered. "Do you think Sephiroth knows?"
Zax thought for a moment, then shrugged. "He can probably sense the disturbance the officers are causing. Sephy's good at being able to sense danger like that."
Cloud sighed. "That's probably how he was able to stay away from me and the group all that time. I didn't really get a chance to get to know him more last night...I was hoping to talk to him, but I forgot..."
"Don't worry about that," Zax reassured him, flipping the eggs into thick omelets. "Stick with him a bit longer and you'll eventually learn all you want to know. But as for moments of peace...you won't have many of them now..."
"Why?" Cloud asked. "I doubt Shinra and Jenova will give us too much trouble."
"Not just that," Zax's tone went dark. "But I'm not letting you alone with Sephy for even a second! You're going to traumatize the poor guy!"
The blonde opened his mouth to protest, but said nothing as Sephiroth entered, fully dressed and ready for the worst. "Pack your breakfasts guys, because you'll have to save it for later," he said, tossing Cloud's packed travel bag to him. "Unless you want a few Shinra officers joining us for a morning meal."
"What?!" Cloud gasped. "They're on their way here?"
Sephiroth shook his head. "They've already entered Nibelheim and are doing house-to-house searches."
"Damn!" cursed Zax. "Anyone got a plan?"