Chapter six

This morning I decided to sit out in front of the mansion. My leg stopped hurting me as much and this puts me in a good mood. I sat on the freshly shoveled steps and watched the townspeople march through the piles of snow. Some would wave a hello to me, while others were too occupied walking. Being careful not to step on ice. Pretty much, Nibelheim hadn't changed from how I remembered it. Before it burned down…and magically rebuilt itself.

I sighed and stuck my hands in the pockets of the new coat I bought from the old couple. The wife was also a tailor. I liked it. The color was dark brown and it had fur-like material on the inside. I'm lucky I got to know the little family, anywhere else this coat would've cost a fortune.

"You know," a voice cuts my daydreaming. "If you're not too busy, how about helping me shovel some of this snow?"

I smile and turn to Sephiroth. "I would but…my wrist might dislocate again." I hold my hand up carefully. He sighs and rests the shovel against his shoulder with a grin.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Besides, why bother shoveling when the snow is just gonna cover it back again."

"I bother because I don't like walking through a lot of snow."

My gaze soon returned to the people, so I didn't notice him picking up a handful of snow. But the sudden burst of icy wetness brought my attention back to him. My coat wasn't closed, so the snow slid down my neck and into my shirt. I instantly stood to my feet, trying to shake the snow out.

"Ah, that's cold!" I snarl at him.

"I'm sorry. Let me even it out…" He then takes the shovel and scoops up a mountain. I stand still.

"You wouldn't…"

He smiles. Yeah, he would. But I wouldn't let him.

Slowly, I reach down to grab a handful myself. Keeping an eye on his shovel. I pause. He threatens to toss it all on me. I know as soon as I touch the snow he'll dump it all on me. What do I do?

I quickly grab some and fall back, avoiding the huge clot of snow flying towards me. Some of it did hit me, mostly in my hair, but this was my chance to get him back! He drops the shovel and jogs away, laughing because he knows I wouldn't be able to catch him. I look over to my crutches…never mind them. Instead, I quickly limp after him.

I hear the sound on his boots crunching through the snow. He's in the back. I take another handful of snow and become still.

"I win." I speak as I turn around and hurls a snowball at him. It hits him in the chest. His little "sneak up behind me" tactic didn't work.

Oh, but I'm not done with him yet. I run up to him and crams my second handful of snow down his shirt.

"That's all folks." I laugh, patting his chest. He gives me a fake laugh and opens his black coat. It was his turn to shake snow off him.

"Well it's good to see your leg is better." He mumbles, un-tucking his shirt so the snow could fall out.

"A little."

I look over to the old Willow tree. All the leaves have long fallen from its branches. Still, I loved that tree. It has a certain majestic charm that puts my often troubled mind to ease.

"She…misses you."

I look over to him. Who misses me?

"Who's she, Seph?" Hopefully he won't leave me hanging. Making me piece together his spontaneous puzzle.

He closes his coat back and looks away. "Aeris."

Ah, I should've figured. He is an Ancient after all, and they have to ability to speak with the planet and such. But what made him tell me this all of a sudden? My hands grow cold and I quickly place them back into my coat pockets.

"Is that what she's saying to you?.." I question him quietly.

"It's faint. Her powers as an Ancient is far greater than my own." Sephiroth smiles dimly before continuing. "I'm only part Ancient. Part human. With Mako particles and such… Well, that's what Professor Gast wrote in his notes before he died."

It seems he has uncovered his past. Well, at the rate he was reading, I wasn't surprised. "And Aeris is a full Ancient?" He nods. "…Then the Promise Land..?"

"There is no Promise Land, Cloud." His voice was as cold as the winter air around us.

"No, that can't be true. Aeris, herself, said.."

"The Promise Land is what we make of it… Just think about it. It's impossible for one to find it? You just know when you've found it? …It's so obvious.."

It wasn't obvious to me.

"I see." I mumbled, not wanting to argue about it. Wasn't like I completely understood any of it no way. Damn, there went my theory on him wanting me to help him find it. Poor Aeris, if what he said was true…

Wait, I didn't feel like thinking about Aeris at that moment. It would only hurl me back into a depression I was trying so hard to fight. But I know she knows I miss her too. The Slum's flower girl. I smile and turn from Sephiroth. Another nap would be nice right about now. Besides, it felt colder out here.

"I'm sorry…"

My ears hear him say softly. But, yet again, I avoided the subject.

"Kinda cold out here, huh? Let's go back in."

He didn't say anything, instead, he followed me into the house. I kicked off my boots and flung my coat away when it hits me. My crutches were still outside. It would take me all day to get up the stairs now. Yet, I didn't feel like waddling back out in the cold to search for them.

"Damn it all.." I groaned.

Before I could explain my situation, I felt myself being lifted. This time I wasn't flung over his shoulder, I was held bridal style against his chest. Did he read my mind? One could only guess as he carried me up the steps and into my room. Sephiroth gently places me on the bed. My head touches the pillow and I look up to him. It was like I was in a fairytale or something. He turns to leave, but my hand grabs his own.

"Wait…" I trailed off, pulling him downward towards me.

"What about your crutches?" He asks while sitting on the edge of my bed. I shook my head. Forget the crutches. I just wanted to console him. He removes his gloves and strokes a few yellow bangs from my face. I love it when does that. It was unreal how adoring his touches felt, especially when I think back to the earlier him.

I sit up and unfastens his coat, pulling it from him slowly. It's then tossed to the foot of the bed. He turns to me, his radiant green eyes are focused on mine. What does he want to say? A hand creeps up my leg and stops at my injured thigh, where he caresses it delicately with his thumb. Sephiroth just doesn't know how much that arouses me. My hand now eases up to his face.

"Wow… you're still a bit cold.." I mumbled with a smile, tucking a loose strand behind his ear.

"Why don't you warm me up then?" His words sent chills through my body. Oh, God, was I blushing? It was like my dreams were coming to life!

"..And if I accidentally set you on fire.?…"

He moved in closer to me, bring our lips to the meeting point. "Promise me you will…" He whispered his reply before kissing me deeply. An intense moan left me, while my hands unbuttoned his shirt.

After a while of kissing, his breathing began to pick up along side mine. We were lusting for each other. Sephiroth broke the kiss and I opened my eyes. To my surprised I was laying back down with him propped up on all fours over me. His opened shirt slid down his back and gathered around his lower arms, revealing a black fitted tank top under it. He lowered his self down again, this time connecting his lips with my neck.

"Sephiroth.." I gasped. My arms immediately wrapped themselves around his built body.

He sits up once more, kisses me and pauses. My eyes re-opens slowly, focusing in on his facial expression. There was something else there. Not just the desire for sex. His eyes held a certain look, as if he had an indescribable emotion locked away somewhere. My hands stroked his sides. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I figured he would say if I gave him a minute.

"…I'm in love with you." He suddenly confessed.

My heart skipped beats like crazy. Was this real? Has he actually fallen in love with me? I couldn't talk. He totally wiped all the words from my mind.

"Seph…" I murmured after a few minutes. Funny, that was all I could really say yet.

His finger touched my lips, silencing me. I nodded. I'm guessing he wanted to keep the mood at where it was. Sephiroth removed his shirt and carefully rolled me on top of him. To be honest, this was my favorite positioning. Thinking back, last time we did this, I was the one who was nude. Well, it was his turn now. I ran my hands leisurely up under his tank top. Taking my time to feel each one of his abdomen muscles. He inhaled deeply, looks like I was making him hot. Good.

Maybe I shouldn't tease him too much… I smile to myself as I completely remove his last shirt. Now his black jeans were the only thing to take from him. I never really notices how many dark colored things he wore until now. No matter, they wouldn't be on long anyway. This time I wouldn't give myself the chance to freeze up.

After I unbuttoned them, I grab both his boxers and pants by the rim and pull them down his thighs. It surprised me when he didn't tense or move when I revealed his manhood. Maybe I'm just the shy one. Finally, I see his whole body and it was everything I dreamt it would be. He was like a work of art, every muscle evenly toned and in proportion. Sephiroth knew I was admiring him. He gently rubbed my leg, bringing my mind back.

Here laid an angel in my bed, there were so many things I wanted to do to him. But I knew it was better to take it slow. My hand wrapped around his hardened extension and caressed it as slow as I could. Just to see him stir. His eyes closed as he rested his head to the side with a smirk. My hand continues to pleasure him while the other maneuvered his pants all the way off.

My lips curl into a wicked smile. It was so obvious he was flustered from my fondling. This only made me want to go on further. His eyebrows drew together slightly …and was that a moan?

"You want more?"

I acted before he could piece together an answer.

My head lowered towards his pelvis. I would've never thought I would be doing this with another man, guess that goes to show you how life can be so unpredictable. But how hard could it be? If I remember to keep my teeth away, everything should go fine. I licked my lips and opened my mouth; sliding him in and against my tongue. My silver haired lover quietly calls my name. This only motivates me. Before long, I'm finding new ways to please him. Gently sucking and licking, even a delicate raking along side the length of him with my teeth seemed to make him groan. I'm having fun.

"…Hold on.." A hand gently lifts my chin up. My eyes trail up to him.

He withdraws his manhood from my lips, then speaks again.

"Not yet."

"Okay." I nodded. His salty taste still lingers in my mouth. Sephiroth pulls me against his bare body, I smile and kisses him. He returns the loving gesture and lays me down.

We look at each other for a moment. I guess it was hard to believe any of this was happening. Mortal enemies one day, lovers the next. ..Well, maybe not literally. I squirmed a bit. The sweater I was wearing was extremely hot now. Ha, I was so occupied with him, I hadn't removed any of my clothing in the process. Sensing my heat, he helps me take off my sweater, leaving me in my undershirt. I quickly unbuckle my belt and slide out my pants. That was much better.

The oldest cracks a smile. "Well, do we go all the way?"

"…That would be great." Damn it all. He always knows how to catch me off guard.

Shyly, I slip out my dampened boxers.

"Are you sure you want to?"

"Yes! Will you plow me already?" I teased him to hide my nervousness. And my curiosity.

He spreads my shaky legs a little, but not before he gave my arousal a nice massage. Even though I got rid of my clothing, I was sweating harder now.

This is it, Cloud. The moment you've dreamed about. Are you ready? My mind asked. I was more than ready. My ex general held two fingers up, bring them to his mouth and licking the tips. I watched quietly, anxiety eating away at me. When he was done, he inserted them into my opening. I gasped, arching my back a bit. That was definitely a new sensation.

Sephiroth withdrew them slightly and enters again, this time a little slower. My eyes closed themselves. It didn't hurt as much. Actually, I'm aroused a lot by it. I wanted him to use his manhood now. The green eyed admirer figures I'm ready after a few more finger thrusts. I bit my lip slightly as I felt him position himself at my opening. He inserted slowly, I inhaled sharply.

"Don't stop.." My words were breathless. He obeyed and now was fully in me. There was a short pause before him started driving within me. He leaned down and gave me a warm open mouth kiss, now moving a bit faster. The pain had totally melted away. It was replaced by a strange erotic prodding sensation that only grew more and more intense.

I released a lengthy moan in the middle of our kiss. The object of my affection smiled into it, thrusting a little harder. I moaned louder, completely detaching our lips. The feeling was driving me crazy. Never would I have imagined it would feel so good. He went down to my neck, where he lapped at it sensually. Pushing me closer to the edge. My hands traveled up his back. My mind was a total blank. All I could think of was him going faster and harder. And that's what he did.

Sephiroth was panting against my neck, moaning quietly every so often. I was surprised I could hear it over all the loud moaning I was doing myself. It wasn't long before he drove me right over the edge. With a throaty groan, I came on him.

"Done are we?" Sephiroth asked in a rather deep tone, propping himself higher up on his hands. I too sat up, leaning back on my elbows.

Before I could confess, he deeper plunged into me. My eyes grew wide and I fell back against the bed. He hit something deep inside me and he continued to touch it at a hasty pace. My toes curled while I gripped the sheet. And to my disbelief, I screamed his name. Ejaculating for a second time.

My body fell limp, exhausted and lacking proper oxygen. He lowered himself on me, and rested his head on my heaving chest. I could feel he was breathing hard as well, the both of us were glistened with sweat. We laid there, just listening to each other breathing. Frankly, I was too embarrassed and tired to talk.

"…You kept your promise." My other spoke faintly, still not budging from his spot. I quivered at the vibration of his voice against me. My nerves were extremely sensitive from my double orgasm. Though, I managed to lift an arm and pet him.

"I think it backfired on me as well.."

He chuckles softly and falls silent. To my guessing, he fell asleep. I smiled at the man I was so madly in love with and drifted off to sleep too.

It seemed like I was sleeping for days when I awoke. I felt heavy. When I opened my eyes, I still saw daylight. So was it the same day? I sat up. Bad move.

"Shiiit!" I hissed. My ass decided to protest about my activities from earlier.

"Nasty side effect, isn't it?"

Sephiroth spoke from my side. I turned to him, holding back a smile. He was laying on top of the covers, back dressed in his black pants and tank top.

"Could've warned me." I mumbled.

He shrugged innocently. "I thought you knew."

The smile forced its way to my lips. It would be even harder now to keep my cool persona around him. I still couldn't believe he loved me…or that I screamed his name like a pansy.. I sunk back down into the sheets. A blush fell upon my face.

"It's not like I've actually done it before… I mean! I've done it before…" I remained quiet a second to think before I spoke again. "I've never had sex with another guy before…"

The taller one placed an arm around me, pulling me close and nuzzling my neck softly. Causing me to blush even harder. Damn it, why was I acting all girly?

"And I have?" He asked me.

I sat up from him, gritting my teeth from the pain. "You're not trying to telling me you were a virgin, are you?"

Sephiroth folds his arms under his head and looks up at the ceiling. He didn't answer my question. But I didn't believe that. Not with his looks and reputation (or skill level). He couldn't have been a virgin, right?

"I'm not a virgin, but that was a first for me as well. I was just making assumptions the whole time."

Yeah, I knew he wasn't.. I tell myself with a grin. Yet, I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. I wonder who was his first.

"So, who did you lose your virginity to?"

He closes his eyes and sighs. Maybe that was a little personal. But who cares? I want to know who the lucky chick was!

Again, more silence. "Look, you don't have to tell me.." I said rather disappointedly.

"I'm thinking." He concluded.

Ok, either it was a long time ago …or many girls ago… My mind rationalized for me. Couldn't have been that long ago though. He's not that much older than me. But c'mon! I can count the girls I've slept with on one hand. I'm a conservative type guy I guess.

I was about to tell him forget it when he began to speak.

"A while ago, when I was about seventeen, there was this girl that work as an intern under Shinra. She was about my age and we became pretty close…" He spoke quietly. This story sounded a bit familiar. Didn't I read something similar about an intern girl working for the lab?..

"Go on.." I requested, now very interested in his past.

"One day she came to me and told me we wouldn't be seeing each other anymore. She never really told me why. I can still see her crying. I was devastated. I blamed it all on Hojo, but she told me not to." He paused to look over at me. "When I think about it, I believe she was my first love. Anyways, so the first chance I got, I took her by the hand and led her to a spot where it would only be the two of us…"

I smiled dimly. So he was in love with the intern girl. That was both sad and romantic, in a way. Sephiroth's life was like a tragic fable.

"Heh, I was nervous… But I knew that was the last time I would see her, so I pushed it aside. It was my fault we had to go through that heartbreak. If I had been more aware of my circumstances.."

I cut him off. "Wait. Why is it your fault?"

"If I knew what was going on, I wouldn't have fallen in love with her. And she wouldn't have done the same."

"So you would've been a total asshole to her, eh?"

"Whatever it took. But I was young and silly… The science experiment loving the scientist, how bizarre.." I wanted to hit him right in the stomach for that.

"What the hell…You're not a science experiment!" I shouted at him to avoid going through with my feeling.

"I've grown to accept what I really am." He raised his eyebrows nonchalantly. That really pissed me off. My hands grabbed him by his tank top and shook him a little.

"Quit saying that! Can an experiment love? Or laugh at my stupid insults? Can it?"

He blinked. "I never said I was a functional experiment…"

I groaned with frustration, letting him go with a slight shove. He was so stubborn. I gathered myself, carefully, and slipped on my boxers. I stood on the floor, ready to leave the room.

"I was only joking, Cloud." He laughed.

"Its not funny, Sephiroth. You shouldn't talk about yourself like that."

He sighed and walked over to me. I turned my back to him and crossed my arms across my chest. His talk was depressing, which meant he was still depressed about it. Which depresses me as well. I felt him walk up close behind me. His arms wrapped themselves around me, holding me against him. He was giving me butterflies again.

"You're right. Forgive me?"

"I-I guess.." Was my quivery reply.