Sephiroth smiled to himself, standing in Tifa's garden behind the 7th Heaven. A breeze blew the petals from the cherry blossom and wisteria trees nearby, the petals falling like snow around him. "I can see why Cloud likes you," a female voice spoke behind him. The man turned to see Tifa approach. "Despite your dark past, you have a good heart."
"Thank you," Sephiroth replied after a slight hesitation, turning away from her. He sighed as she stood beside him on the bridge over a pool of reflecting water. "Tifa...You're not like Zax, are you? I mean...you're comfortable with Cloud and I being...close?"
The woman smiled. "You mean being lovers?" She laughed as Sephiroth blushed a bit. "Na, its okay with me. I'm glad to see Cloud happy for once. He enjoys being with you. But as for love..." Tifa shrugged. "Love is love and should be expressed between two who care about each other, even if they are the same gender. If you ask me, you two make a cute couple." She sighed, then glanced at Sephiroth. "So...is it true?"
He gave her a curious look. "Is what true?"
She blushed a bit. "That you and Cloud...you know...did it."
His face darkened a few more shades of red. "I guess word around here spreads quickly." He nodded his head. "Yes...we made love..."
"Its strange," Tifa spoke out of the blue, "to hear you say that." She shook her head. "I always knew you as a dark person, but when I see you with Cloud and here a few moments ago, I just got this feeling...that maybe...all you needed was someone to hold and to be held in return."
The man glanced at her through the corner of his eye. "I know what you're thinking," he said with a smile. " 'A shame it wasn't me.' "
Her face became a bright red. "There are plenty of young women who would gladly give themselves to you if they knew you had changed."
"But I chose Cloud..." sighed Sephiroth. He shook his head, weakly smiling. "I live to disappoint..."
Tifa's blush and smile faded. "Sephiroth...I'm worried...about Zax."
Sephiroth turned to her, giving the woman a curious look. "What about Zax?"
"He told me you have an injection to kill the cells in him..." The woman shook her head. "If I know Zax, he'll use it on you and let himself die." Tears formed in her eyes. "Please!" she pleaded. "Don't let Zax die...I'll be so mad if you let him die..." Sobbing, Tifa clung to Sephiroth, who hesitated a bit before he hugged her back, stroking her hair.
"Its okay Tifa..." he whispered, trying to reassure her. "He won't die...I promise. I'll make sure of it tonight..." He let go of her, drying her face with a black handkerchief. "There's no need for you to worry..."
"Thank you..." She looked up at him with a weak smile, a light paint of blush decorating her cheeks. "Sephiroth...I want you to do me a favor..."
A tingle of danger crawled up his spine. "What?"
"Could you kiss me? The way you kiss Cloud?"
"No," the word came before he could think. "I couldn't...I'm not going to hurt myself or Cloud...I'm sorry Tifa, but I can't."
Tifa's weak smile became a kind one as she stepped away from him. "You have a good heart Sephiroth..." She turned to leave. "I'll be sure to get Zax extra drunk for you tonight so you and Cloud can have some time alone." With that, she left him.
Sephiroth sighed and shook his head, watching his reflection in the rippling pool below him. He placed a hand over his heart, Tifa's words making his heart flutter and groin throb. Do I really want that? I hurt him last night...I know I did, he thought. What came over me, I'll never know...I don't want to hurt him any more than I already have...Another night with Cloud...it may be my last...Next time...I should be more gentle... He shook his head once more, blushing lightly.
As if hearing his thoughts, the blonde approached him, standing beside the older man. "Hey..." he spoke, looking over the pond. "Mind if I join you?"
"Go right ahead...I could use the company," sighed Sephiroth, staring into the eyes of Cloud's reflection.
Cloud smiled weakly, his eyes meeting Sephiroth's in the water. "I saw Tifa leaving. She told me I should be grateful I have you...and that I'm lucky."
The silver-haired man smiled, blushing a bit more. "She was worried about Zax...that's all. I just did a little reassuring, nothing much."
"Your room or mine?"
"Beg pardon?" he asked, turning to Cloud with a curious look on his face.
The blonde continued to watch the rippling water. "You heard me. Tonight, your room or mine? I know you want to do it again...I can sense it."
Sephiroth's blush deepened even more. "I have something I need to do tonight, but I'll join you in your room." He placed a light peck on Cloud's lips. "I'm going to see if Tifa has lunch ready."
"Hold up. I'll go with you."
Stopping, Sephiroth turned to the blonde, letting Cloud walk beside him to the tavern and inn.
***
The cover of night had fallen an hour ago as Cloud stood in front of the window in his room, wearing a light robe and pants. He had heard Sephiroth pass his room and go to Zax's moments ago, and now Cloud silently waited for the dark angel to come. His senses were open and alert, prepared for no surprises.
Cloud gasped as a body pressed itself against his, a pair of strong arms slid under his as Sephiroth's hands rested clasped over Cloud's abdomen. The elder rested his chin on Cloud's left shoulder. "Miss me?" he whispered.
"You just scared me," sighed Cloud. "I didn't' hear or sense you enter..."
"I'm sorry..." Sephiroth lightly kissed Cloud's neck. "It's a bad habit...sneaking around like that."
"Why were you in Zax's room?" Cloud asked, holding his hands over Sephiroth's.
"I was making sure of something..."
"Sephiroth..." Cloud turned to face the man, the elder's arms still wrapped around the blonde's waist. "I'm worried...why can't I sense Jenova anymore? Why doesn't it feel like she has a hold on me?"
Sephiroth hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Because she no longer has a hold on either you or Zax." Cloud's eyes silently asked Sephiroth question upon question. "This morning, I gave you an injection that neutralized and destroyed the Jenova cells in you. That's why I was in Zax's room moments ago."
"But what...what about you?" Cloud asked, eyes wide. "Won't you die?"
The man light kissed Cloud's lips, pressing his forehead on the blonde's. "Hush now love...this may be our last night together if we fail..."
Cloud could feel as strange, cold sense got through him as if Sephiroth were casting a spell. He ignored it though, letting Sephiroth take in the comfort of holding him close. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you worry...If you wish...we can just rest tonight." Cloud sighed, turning back to the window.
"Not so fast," whispered Sephiroth, his hands untying the sash that held Cloud's robe closed. "You aren't getting by that easily..." Cloud shivered in Sephiroth's arms as the elder's fingers lightly grazed the blonde's skin, the silver-haired man slipping the robe from Cloud's shoulders. He light kissed Cloud's neck where it met his shoulder.
Again Cloud gasped as Sephiroth's hand slid under Cloud's clothes and caressed the blonde's manhood. He wanted to struggle, but found no strength to; Sephiroth's kiss tingling as he sucked Cloud's skin, forming a hickey. The blonde could barely breathe, feeling his groin harden, tears of pain once more filling his eyes. He bit his bottom lip, fighting back the pain of the dark angel's love.
"Am I hurting you?" Sephiroth asked, releasing the kiss and Cloud's privates.
Cloud weakly nodded his head, feeling too weak to speak. Saying nothing, he wiggled out of Sephiroth's arms and went to sit on his bed. The elder man went to him and kissed Cloud's lips. A burning desire to be with each other in them both, Cloud leaned back to let Sephiroth continue.
Sephiroth removed his cloak and armor and once more kissed Cloud's lips deeply, his tongue toying with the blonde's in their mouths. He could feel Cloud's heart race as Sephiroth pressed his chest to Cloud's, the older man lying on top of his lover. The dark angel felt his hard groin brush against Cloud's but held back the urge to brutally assault Cloud the way he did the night before.
Instead, Sephiroth's hand slid under Cloud's clothes once more, exploring between Cloud's legs. The blonde broke the kiss, whimpering a bit. "Sephiroth...what are you...doing?" he whispered weakly.
"Getting you used to me...and getting to know you and your body," replied the older man, his voice soothing to Cloud's ears. "Just relax and don't fight back...It won't hurt so much if you just take it..." He pulled his dew-covered hand from Cloud's groin, licking the seed from a finger. "Sleep Cloud..."
Not bothering to fight it, Cloud fell into a deep spell-induced sleep. Placing a hand over the blonde's face, Sephiroth closed his eyes and whispered a silent spell. "All my power...all my strength...I give to you..." he murmured. "My heart, soul, and body is already yours..." To complete the spell, Sephiroth pulled a dagger from his nearby cloak and lifted it to his face. With a swift movement, blood covered the dagger and Sephiroth's hands.