Catch Your Shadow
Chapter Three:
AN: Howdy. How's it uh…goin? Yeah. Good here too. So…I really was in the mood to write this, because all I've been doing lately is school work and listening to L'arc (big on them right now for some reason) and GLAY and I'm defying the rules I've laid for myself to be focused, and am writing a new chapter. Although all my CCS fans are going to lynch me for not writing a new chapter…if they can catch me! I must flee!
Disclaimer: Will thumb-wrestle for ownership of Sephiroth! Specially his wardrobe…
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"So…what is shopping?" Sephiroth asked. He seemed reluctant to ask. Cloud grinned devilishly. "I'm going to have so much fun dressing you…" he whispered sinisterly. (AN: Sephie right now: Oo) Sephiroth seemed less put at ease with this, and only slid farther in the taxi seat. The cars were new to him, but everyone else had seemed unaffected, so he decided to act casual. It was hard, because all these random things out the window kept attracting his attention.
'What an odd place!' he found himself thinking. Bright lights, loud noises, large billboards and advertisements everywhere….he could get lost in all the crowds of people milling around. Cloud was humming as he twisted a piece of his hair around his finger. He saw the tense Sephiroth and smiled at him. "Oh, calm down! We're only going to get you some clothes! It's called shopping. And this, this is Tokyo. Lots of bright lights and lots of people. You should get used to it." Sephiroth eyed him like he was mad. Cloud seemed to be aware he was asking a lot, because he laughed after he said it.
Finally the driver pulled off the curb and Cloud got out then opened the door for Sephiroth. He dug deep into his jeans pockets and extracted a wallet in the shape of a large jet plane. He paid the driver, then thanked him and pulled Sephiroth into the crowd. Sephiroth suddenly didn't care anymore. Cloud was holding his hand. All his attention in his body focused to his hand and he felt like warm shivers were running through his body from that spot.
He barely realised where he was being led, which is why when Cloud stopped it surprised him and he had to try not to trip. Cloud was smiling happily up at the store sign before he winked at Sephiroth and dragged him inside. Sephiroth eyed the large doll-like things in the front window. They were wearing some odd clothes. The inside was speck-clean and very shiny. The lights reflected the floor like a mirror.
Sephiroth had a very bad feeling already. Cloud left him sitting in a large plush, but uncomfortable chair and told him not to move. He set out into the store like a hound on a scent. Sephiroth sat back and tried to ignore the stares from people around him and the many giggles of the girls that passed by him shyly. For some reason, none really looked as pleasing to him as his blonde angel who had disappeared completely.
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Cloud was happily dancing nimbly through the men's clothes looking for things for Sephiroth. He figured the broad-shouldered man had a size bigger then him in shirts and a size less in pants. After all, Cloud thought dejectedly, the silver beauty wasn't a kirin-ashi (AN: I learned how to say it trillion upon one thanks to the reviewer! You're mentioned below!) like him. He giggled as he found a jacket he knew the tori-shonen (AN: I love you so much….) would like. He whipped it off the rack. A few people near by looked at him oddly, but he didn't care. This was one of the only stores he'd never been kicked out of before, and he wanted to keep it that way for now. (AN: As of last week, I have officially been kicked out of every shoe store in my city….please don't ask…--) After awhile he remembered he'd left Sephiroth completely unarmed and inside a store of high fashion crawling with pretty girls. He saw a small crowd where he'd left him, and he panicked.
Pushing between two girls who were whispering and pointing he found Sephiroth looking very frazzled surrounded by a group of admirers. Sephiroth wanted to laugh it him because he looked so ridiculous all hunched up and looking ready to attack the next person that looked at him funny. He grabbed his wrist making him jump and pulled him away from the crowd. "Attracting quite a lot of attention, eh, tori-shonen?" he giggled as Sephiroth glared at him and flushed. "What was wrong with those people!" he demanded, looking completely flabbergasted. "Well, you see, in this store you often get a lot of movie stars and such….and in Tokyo beauty is a big thing…" he let it trail off, hoping Sephiroth would catch the hint. "So!" he yelled again.
Cloud sighed. "You're so dense! And you just happen to be very attractive! I mean, come one, long silver hair, practically neon eyes, of course people are going to want to stare at you." He mumbled the rest and dropped Sephiroth's hand, embarrassed at having to say all that. He didn't answer, but when Cloud found him the dressing rooms, he went in without protest. "Let me see what it looks like, okay?" Cloud shouted over the dark black curtain. A muffled affirmative met his ears.
He smiled and took another rigid chair. He looked over his shoulder and saw two shy girls poking their heads through the curtain. He smiled at them in a way he knew would make them flush. It did, much to his satisfaction. "This is the men's sweetie. Girls' is that way." he pointed and turned his back to them again.
He heard them arguing for a moment over who should talk then a black haired girl stepped forward. She cleared her throat, but Cloud purposefully ignored her. She cleared her throat louder and Cloud turned back around, acting surprised. "Umm…did that man just come in here?" she asked, pretty green eyes flashing, daring him to deny it. Cloud shrugged. "Yeah." He said simply. "Do you know him?" she asked next. Cloud stood and took a step towards her. "Course. He's staying at my place."
He let her find the implication, and when she did her eyebrows shot up. "Oh. Okay." She sounded slightly disappointed. "Listen, he'll get mad at me but…you can watch him model this stuff I picked out." Cloud giggled happily.
The girl seemed to warm up to him. Her eyes widened. "Really?" she asked hopefully. He nodded and she ushered her friends in. they took the last few seats all watching the same cubicle Cloud was. He waited for Sephiroth to come out.
It took a few more moments before he stepped from the booth with Cloud's creation. He looked absolutely furious, then when he saw the squealing girls he went deathly pale. "You…" But Cloud wasn't paying attention to him. He was openly gawking at him. He'd picked some silly things, knowing in the end Sephiroth was the type to run off and get his own clothes, so he may as well have some fun, but what he saw before him was….well, he'd picked a over dress kind of thing, it slid over the whole body like a glove, ending just at the breast-bone and underneath was the white frilly shirt. It zipped up front. The leather reflected in the light. Sephiroth looked like some kind of Gothic sex-slave.
He seemed to become aware suddenly of Cloud being blown away in his seat because his cheeks tinted slightly and he hid from the girls who were fawning over him as well. He knew why Cloud had done this. It was all for fun. Cloud watched the man slide back inside the booth and heard the zipper pulling down. He had a very strong image of himself doing it with his teeth. His mind was too hazy to think. Sephiroth drove him insane. He knew if he looked that good in something that odd, then all the other half-cosplay half not outfits he'd picked with an almost Victorian look to them would blow his mind. (AN: You cannot begin to imagine how much fun I'm having. Come on, like you would pass a chance like this up, especially all the leather and cosplay stuff….droooool)
The next outfit was worse. And he suspected Sephiroth was aware of his effect on him. The shirt was sheer and black setting off his hair so perfectly, his godly figure made Cloud almost want to drool. It clung to him and enunciated every small muscle in his stomach. The pants were a tight leather material and they still managed to hang in just the right places.
As he stepped from the dressing room a newcomer Cloud hadn't noticed called for him to turn. Sephiroth looking confused did, and everyone ooh-ed and aah-ed. The crowd around his dressing room began to swell. Cloud tried not to place the description to himself, but he found he'd never been more attracted to anyone.
Just the powerful aura that hung around Sephiroth, the cold feel of him, the way he could still be so helpless, the knowing and dark intelligence in his neon eyes that he found he could get completely sunken in….Cloud caught himself and shut his gaping mouth, hoping and praying he wasn't falling in love. It felt like it was inevitable if he was, but he refused to admit it to himself. Falling in love was not an option for him right now. Why? Well, he had plenty of reasons for not wanting to fall in love….sure he couldn't think of any right now, but there were a lot of reasons. Yeah there were plenty of reasons. Or was he just convincing himself?
He shook his head and his brain cleared from its lust haze. He stood up fast and moved around the group of people clustering around and giving Sephiroth his own runway show. He walked fast out of the changing room, not sure why he felt upset. Sephiroth's eyes followed him out.
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He pushed around the other people who all cried for him to come back. But he didn't care. All that mattered was Cloud right now. He'd seen the man openly gawking at him. He knew the look in his eyes, having seen it many times before. From a long time ago, in a far away place. It was lust that shined brightly and smoldering in his eyes. It made his stomach jump and his heart pound on his ribcage. He could see the effect he was having on him.
He checked his outfit and was pleased with the tight black jeans and the black light material, long-sleeved, with only the first two buttons closed. The shirt flew open as he paced to find Cloud and his pale stomach peeked out from underneath the low-cut jeans. His hair had long since been pulled down free from its bun when shouted out by a man in the audience.
He saw Cloud walking out the door into the street. He called his name, knowing he couldn't leave with the clothes on. Once again, an instinct he couldn't place. Cloud heard him and turned, but when he saw him his face coloured. Sephiroth pointed to his clothes letting him see he couldn't leave. Cloud seemed to think for a moment, then turned back and stood next to him watching the ground with the same adorable look that he was holding something back that he wanted to say or ask.
He seemed to be teetering on the edge of saying something until he shook his head and mumbled that they should pay for what he wanted and go to dinner. Or something unintelligible like that. Sephiroth decided to make the action for him. Ignoring everything in his head that screamed at him he grabbed Cloud's hand and brought it to his lips.
He felt Cloud freeze and tense up before his lips touched honeyed skin and he had the sensation that he'd done this before. Many times. He didn't want to pull away, but he did. And he looked into Cloud's eyes. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but slower now and more relaxed. He saw the lust still there in his eyes, but now the sharp, pointed eyes were opened into a wide-eyed enraptured manner. "Let's go to dinner." Sephiroth whispered.
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Cloud was still flustered in the taxi almost a half-hour later. A single shopping bag lay on the floor of the cab. Sephiroth had kept the long-sleeved shirt and low-cut black jeans, but now he had a hematite ring and a black jewel bracelet. (AN: Sorry, having too much enjoyment from this not to make it cheesy…) Cloud was completely amazed by him still. Even after seeing him like this for awhile now. He truly looked like something off a run-way. Cloud felt almost plain in comparison.
His hand still tingled and those smooth lips were still implanted on his memory. He could still see his smooth stomach. He was so pale! So perfect, so muscular- Stop it! Cloud scolded himself. By Kami, he just wanted to kiss the pale man till he smothered. But he resisted for a new fear birthed in him. He felt so unworthy of him. And the way all those people had just fawned over him…Cloud shook his head. He was being dumb. He'd always been incredibly comfortable with his looks, and now was not the time to start beating himself up.
He decided to settle on carefully hidden awe. Sephiroth was still gazing out the window like an amazed child in a candy shop. Cloud smiled to himself. "Do you remember restaurants?" he asked, and Sephiroth whipped to face him. With the long silver hair falling like a thick curtain into his face and the neon lights paling in comparison to his eyes Cloud felt his heart palpitating in his chest. He gulped, hoping it wasn't obvious.
So he was….godly beautiful? That didn't mean Cloud had to act like a horny school girl! (AN: AKA me….ha-ha…) Sephiroth shrugged, as if it didn't matter. "I was always served." Cloud knew he was remembering something- the glassy gleam suddenly in his eyes was enough of a give-away- and he saw the cab driver, obviously eavesdropping, give Sephiroth an odd look in the rearview mirror. Cloud grinned sheepishly at him. He rolled his eyes at his smile and focused back on the road.
Sephiroth was long gone, receded into his mind again, so Cloud had to whistle to snap him out of it when they reached the restaurant. He shut his eyes and when he opened them all the apathy and seriousness was back. Cloud handed the driver the money with a hefty tip and watched him speed away.
He faced Sephiroth. "Remember something?" he asked, serious for once. Sephiroth turned away and let his hair swish to answer Cloud's question. Cloud shrugged, taking the passive road again and motioned for Sephiroth to follow him inside. The restaurant was a dimly-lit affair, with pulsing techno music that made Cloud feel slightly drugged, and all black tables and booths. The food was really good, and very expensive. Once or twice it had been claimed that Gackt ate here.
Cloud didn't care, he liked the atmosphere. Like a club without dancing, and really good food. The hostess did a double-take when she saw them. Cloud smirked. She must think Sephiroth was a model. This place was supposed to crawling with top-designers and the such.
He asked for a booth in the corner and whistled again so Sephiroth would stop dazing into space and follow them. He slid into the booth and after the hostess had left, still giving Sephiroth sneaky glances as he sat down awkwardly. Cloud couldn't help but laugh as he picked up the menu in the shape of a tie-dyed triangle. "Relax. See, a waiter or waitress comes and we order food. And they bring it to us." A sudden thought struck him as Sephiroth picked up the menu and precariously opened it. "Can you read kanji?" he asked.
Sephiroth looked up at him over the large menu. He looked as if he wanted to smile, but instead said: "Yes. I am well-versed in many languages, whether my own or not." Cloud spat out his tongue at him. "So high and mighty, eh?" he rolled his eyes as Sephiroth smugly went back to reading the menu.
Cloud knew he had questions. He could see it in the silver-haired man's eyes. He waited for him to ask. "What's udon?" Cloud burst out laughing. He triumphantly smirked as Sephiroth glowered. "Me one, you one." He said, keeping score in his mind. He then proceeded to tell Sephiroth everything on the menu in perfect detail.
"Excuse me, sir?" Cloud looked up at the man addressing Sephiroth. Sephiroth didn't look at him only nodded. The man looked only more confident. Cloud went on defensive. What did he want, approaching them like this? "I represent Midgar fashions. I was wondering if you would be willing to model for us." It was so blunt; it didn't register in Cloud's mind for another full minute. Then it hit. "Midgar fashions? You guys are like the leaders in the fashion industry!" The man looked to him flashing very white teeth. "Name's Rufus. Rufus Midgar." Cloud's eyes were practically bugging out of hiss head.
The founder of Midgar Fashions was standing before them. And Cloud could see why everyone raved about his good looks. He let his eyes slide over the man in front of them for a moment. Sephiroth was still focusing on his water glass. Hair that was primarily red, but tinted orange with some auburn high-lights, tall trim figure, nicely set features and a winning smile. "No." Sephiroth stated, quite plainly. He didn't even try to sugar-coat it.
Rufus's smile never even faltered. "Well, if you're not signed on with anyone, give me a call. You would be more then perfect for my new line of fantasy outfits. Give me a call." And with long fingers, nails painted dark crimson to match his snake-skin jacket and black shirt with red slacks; he flicked a card on the table. He gave Sephiroth an extra smile, this time more of a hit-on then a winning smile and left. Two men tagged along. Body-guards Cloud realised eyes widening.
Sephiroth took a sip from his water glass, completely unperturbed. Cloud however was practically about to explode. "Do you know who that was!" he almost screamed. Then he remembered. Sephiroth wouldn't know, would he? "No. And I don't care. I'm not going to…"model" or whatever he called it. I only want my memories back." Cloud sighed, exasperated. "Well, that was an honour." He whispered. "And that Rufus was a pretty thing wasn't he?" Sephiroth didn't answer, and something in Cloud twinged. He looked almost guilty for the fact that he may have had an answer. Cloud sulked over their food.
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They were walking back to Cloud's apartment. It had been his idea. Sephiroth wasn't really paying attention. He was wondering why Cloud had been so quiet. He hoped he hadn't upset his blonde angel. He watched him now, as his long legs weaved around people. He tried to keep up, but almost stumbled. His mind was elsewhere. Vision that he ascertained as memories were coming to him more frequently. Mostly of Cloud. He knew enough now to know he wasn't of this world. And he knew Cloud wasn't either.
They had known each other before, but something had happened and Sephiroth had been exiled from his kingdom. He knew it was a kingdom from the castle that always appeared in his head when he thought of home. He also knew he was a warrior, sworn to a Goddess of something he knew only as the Lifestream. (AN: Sorry, is it one word?) Somehow he remembered most vaguely of being sworn to chastity. Why he remembered this so strongly was beyond him. It seemed an important factor for some reason.
He bumped into someone rather hard and was jostled. He knew as well that he had been a prince's protector, one of the most sacred positions that existed in his kingdom. He had a vague feeling Cloud was the prince…but he remembered how badly Cloud had been shaken up when it had even been brought up earlier and he had remembered something as well form this other kingdom. He didn't want to upset him. But the feelings he felt ran deeper then his own mystery. He wanted to name them, but found it impossible.
He bumped into someone else and looked up, finding blonde spikes only a bit ahead of him. He tilted his head down and tried to keep up. The blonde was as dazed as him, walking pell-mell, but with long-legged grace, through the crowds of people. He seemed to have forgotten Sephiroth was there. He knew magic. He remembered that. The water spell he'd used in Cloud's kitchen had come so perfectly, so naturally, it had taken him almost no thought.
The language had slipped like a well-fit glove onto his tongue, and it was out before he'd had time to consider anything. It had cost him a bit of energy and winded him for a moment though. He'd seen scenes in his mind….scenes of him and Cloud. Cloud sitting on a large four-poster bed, king-size, with crimson sheets and dark blue hangings.
He was wearing a very long coat-like thing that reached his feet and closed over his entire body like a husk. Somehow Sephiroth knew he wore black shorts under it. The jacket's collar met his cheeks. And the bracelet winding up his arm was sign of his position. As prince. On his small neck nestled a dark black stone. And his wings were feathered, unlike Sephiroth's own, and were currently white tinted red at the majestic tips. His hair was sleeked down. Not the usual spikes.
Sephiroth was watching him, concealed behind a doorway. But he had a suspicion Cloud knew he was there. He looked so lost and so absolutely stunning…Sephiroth wanted to hold him tight and never let go. But every voice in his head had screamed that it would break his code of chastity and oath to never fall in love. Lust was an enemy of the armed warriors for the Goddess of the Lifestream, who the king and family, including Cloud, were descended from.
Cloud whispered something and a small flame blew into life in mid-air. He blew on it, and it extinguished, leaving a cloud of smoke. He watched it intently for a few seconds before it started to take form of a heart in a wavering way. If Sephiroth hadn't been searching for the shape it would've been too shaky to find. Sephiroth knew what he was saying. He felt it in his very core. A yearning for something he could never, ever deserve or have.
Cloud dropped all pretenses and looked directly at him. His neon blue eyes burned with the intensity of a small sun. And the look of lust Sephiroth had felt was so familiar back in the store was there, burning deep.
Cloud threw his keys onto the counter-top when they got back. He finally looked to Sephiroth. "You should do it. Modeling I mean. After all, money's running kinda short and I hate to use the stuff my rents' send." Sephiroth felt right then Cloud could've asked him to grab him the moon and he would've. He grabbed a pair of scissors off the same counter next to the keys and unbuttoned the shirt. He saw Cloud turn away modestly, and smiled mentally.
He cut the holes as he mulled it over. Slipping the shirt back on, he asked: "What's modeling?" Cloud, checking to see he was dressed first, turned back around and smiled. "Well, remember in the store when all those people were admiring you, and you were showing all the clothes?" Sephiroth nodded. "Like that, but they take photo's of you and make you wear a lot more stuff. And lots of people see it." Sephiroth didn't like the sound of it at all. Beauty was not something he coveted within himself.
"Do you need me to do this?" Cloud eyed him. "Oh, don't get me wrong, don't do it unless it sounds interesting to you. But it would help slightly….anyways, you may go and they may just dismiss you automatically." He sounded reluctant to have even mentioned it. Sephiroth said carefully: "I'll think about it. Do you work?" he asked him, feeling for an idea of how badly Cloud needed him to do it. "Used to, but right now I'm out of a job, which is why money is so scarce at the moment." Sephiroth had a basic idea of the sense of exchange in this world, but it seemed a little too important. It appeared as if money ruled the world. Something that important….Sephiroth decided to ponder it during the night.
Cloud moved around him stretching his arms above his head. Sephiroth caught himself from watching the tan skin poke out from under his shirt. "Did you ever play an instrument?" Sephiroth eyed Cloud, confused momentarily. "What?" he mumbled. "Do you remember playing an instrument? I mean, I read somewhere, in some medical journal or something, that with amnesia you need to try and find something the person learned and enjoyed. Then it helps the memory come back faster. It's like subconscious or something." Sephiroth scanned his brain. "I don't think so…" He trailed off, not able to bring anything up from the murky depths of his mind.
Cloud sighed. "That's okay." He shrugged. "I used to play violin, see 'cause at my school I scored like number one in the country on some IQ test and they kept telling me I should be moved up, or I was some kind of genius or something. So my 'rents made me take all these musical instruments….I was really good with violin…they said I was some master or something. But I gave it up. Quit school too." He shrugged. Sephiroth eyed him. He could hardly believe it, but he wasn't really sure what Cloud meant by half of what he said. (AN: That happened to me, I got like the best scores on some stupid IQ test, and they made me take a PSAT test. Ah, the good old days….)
Cloud shrugged and smiled blissfully. "Then hormones hit and I became an idiot." He laughed. "Are you tired? Do you wanna take the futon?" he asked, jerking his hand around to point to his room. Sephiroth kept his eyes on his face. "No, but I don't want the futon tonight. You take it." Cloud looked back to his eyes. "No, you're my guest, I insist." He objected. Sephiroth shook his head no. Suddenly he sat on the floor and Cloud watched as he crossed his legs and took some deep breaths. Then he exhaled and with an odd ripping noise the two leather wings slid from Sephiroth's back emerging in an almost menacing way.
He took another deep breath before opening his eyes and looking up at Cloud as if nothing had just happened. He flinched before he stood, and he stumbled slightly. Cloud looked concerned, but he only held up his hand to discourage any questions. With a ruffled look Cloud shut his open mouth. "Fine. I'll sleep with you." Sephiroth besieged, albeit smugly. He knew it would make Cloud nervous. He could see it in his face.
The thin features in Cloud's face contorted for a moment, and then he grinned. "Fine. Let's sleep together. But if you try anything, because I know it's hard to resist, I'll throw you out on your fine ass." Sephiroth returned his grin. "Great. Wouldn't try it anyways, kirin-ashi." He walked around Cloud as his face flushed and he prepared a come-back that Sephiroth would never hear.
The bag from the shopping escapade was in the hallway by the door. Sephiroth grabbed them and made his way to Cloud's room. Since he hadn't really bought a pair of pajamas, he decided to sleep in just the baggy black cargo pants, which were a comfortable cotton material. He slipped out of his supplied outfit and into the pants. He eyed the futon. The idea of being that close to Cloud…especially at night…something in him lurched and his heart skipped a beat or two.
He again remembered his feelings of definition at Cloud's somewhat premonition, and having the deeper sense confirming Cloud was as he said; a prince. Of what where or how, he had no idea, but it just felt like something concrete in the currently liquid world of his. He clung to it, and dug in the pockets of the Cloud's pants. He found the card he had been given by the attractive man, Rufus his name had been, right? Oh well. It didn't matter.
He placed it in the pocket half-way down the leg of his new pants. It felt like an odd weight against his leg; ominous almost. Ignoring it for now he poked his head back out Cloud's door. The boy was on the couch, leg peeking out over the arm. The odd plastic box was on, and pictures and noises illuminated the otherwise quiet apartment. He found it fascinating for only a moment before he strode jubilantly into the darkly-lit room and stood by the edge of the couch.
Cloud didn't look up at him. He was lying on half of the couch horizontally with one leg hanging off the edge and placed on the floor, and the other thrown over the couch. He looked horribly comfortable the way he was with his hair falling almost sneakily from the prearranged spikes and into his face. His eyes were dulled slightly. "Do you have TV where you come from?" he asks voice monotonous. "Is that what it's called?" Sephiroth replied as way of answering. Cloud smiled. "Sit." He motioned to the small empty space left on the couch. Sephiroth did sit, although he remained straight-backed and rigid. Cloud didn't look back at him. He turned his head and curved his back so he was almost upside down off the couch. Sephiroth wanted to let him lay his head in his lap.
Where the idea and desire came from was unknown to him, but he had it all the same. "I think I'm going to do the modeling." He said it into the noise of the commercial for Pocky. Cloud didn't seem to acknowledge him. "Do you really want to? Or is it just because I told you we need the money?" Sephiroth remained silent. Cloud looked back up at him. Sephiroth's face was stone cold, which meant he wasn't going to talk.
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Cloud saw his profile in the dim light of the TV. "Rufus liked you." He stated. He mostly wanted to see his reaction. Sephiroth looked down to him. Cloud felt his breath get sucked away when Sephiroth's neon eyes burned into his. "Really?" he didn't really sound too surprised. "Yeah. I think if you were alone he would've jumped your bones." Cloud said it in an off-handed manner, but he saw Sephiroth bite his lip. He sighed. "You know. Oh come on, don't you know what sex is at least?" he demanded.
Sephiroth looked away and Cloud saw some colour on his cheeks. He grinned. 'How cute!' he thought to himself. "Yes. I know what that is." He looked uncomfortable. "Well, yeah, he definitely would've invited you to that." There was silence for a moment before Sephiroth asked a question. "Would you have done the same with him?" It was a perfect touché to Cloud's statement. He smiled at the man in a warm way.
It may have seemed a passive statement, but a trace of what sounded like jealously was in his voice, and he looked a little too anxious to hear the answer. (AN: Aww…) Cloud sat up fast and with a grace only attained from keeping this position and getting out of it many times before, he leaned forward and placed his head on Sephiroth's shoulder. 'He smells so freakin' good!' Cloud thought as he absorbed the comfort Sephiroth brought him and reveled in the fact he'd never felt this…well-fit with anyone else before, male or female. Plus his very, very attractive chest and bare skin, which was just as perfectly pale as the rest of him, gleamed brilliantly in the light. Cloud wanted to drool.
Sephiroth was tense; Cloud felt it, so he giggled sneakily and pushed himself up to give him a slight peck on his pale cheek. He knew that would melt him, and it did, as Cloud pulled away his cheeks flared up and he un-tensed suddenly like warm rubber. Cloud liked the way his skin tasted. "Sorry, but I like that you're jealous." Cloud explained, leaning back against his shoulder. "I'm not jealous." He stated, but it held no conviction. Cloud smiled secretly to himself. "Of course you aren't." he said back in a sleepy manner.
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Sephiroth let Cloud lean against him for at least an hour. When the time displayed in the bottom of the screen read midnight he moved slightly breaking a very comfortable, very warm feeling that had coated the dim living room and he realised Cloud had fallen asleep.
His kiss still burned on his cheek and he had a very strong urge to return the kiss, but much harder and on his very soft lips which were parted slightly in his sleep. Sephiroth watched him; he couldn't resist. When he was relaxed and dropped all hyper attitudes and just calmed Sephiroth could find nothing more beautiful then him at that moment. He looked like royalty and Sephiroth knew without any doubt at that moment that he was right and Cloud had to be some kind of prince. How else could he be so…angelic?
Cloud moaned slightly and tried to roll over. He obviously thought he was in his bed, and as he rolled he tipped himself over. Sephiroth saw it all as if in slow motion, and he lunged for Cloud. He managed to fall off as well, but Cloud's head fell into his stomach as he hit the ground, so he had no problem with falling roughly on his back.
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Cloud awoke at that moment with a cry of: "It is too green!" and realised in the same moment his head and his body was on top of a very sexy, partially naked Sephiroth. "What the-!" and he tried to sit up, but his legs, still on the couch, tripped him up and tangled.
He flipped over and this time his forehead hit Sephiroth's neck. He made a choking noise, and wrapped his arms around Cloud's back, trying to push him up so he wouldn't choke. A splash of blonde hair fell onto his chin. The smell of it was nice and clean, plagued slightly by the smell of wind from being outside.
Instead of pushing him up he ended up only pulled down tighter onto him. They both froze in that moment. Cloud was sprawled onto him, legs spread on either side, his waist pulled very firmly against him, his upper body flush against Sephiroth's own. His skin was baby-soft. Cloud wanted to taste the rest of him and trail his tongue up Sephiroth's chest, then bite his neck as hard as he could- 'Stop!' he yelled at himself.
He felt the silver-haired man take a deep breath. He used his arms to push himself up. He looked into the neon orbs he adored so much. "Did I fall asleep?" he asked, innocently. Sephiroth's eyes were wide and looked contained by some greater will Cloud wished he wouldn't hold back on. He nodded. "Get off me." He almost gasped out. "You need to let go of me first." Cloud pointed out, trying very hard not to get swept away by the nice feeling of Sephiroth beneath him. Once again he felt how perfectly they fit.
He tried to think of how nicely they would fit in other ways….'Stop being so dirty!' his head screamed at him. He grinned, confusing Sephiroth and wormed his body around. He heard the sharp intake of breath beneath him and he knew he was having a positive effect. 'Perfect…' he shook his head again, only bewildering Sephiroth even more.
Cloud brought to mind the nice taste of his skin…again. "I want to go to bed." Sephiroth mumbled. Cloud looked back down to him, and was momentarily taken away by the wonderful way his hair made a silver curtain around his head, like some kind of halo and with his head tilted to the side, he was just too perfect. Cloud smiled mischievously and enjoyed the slight red tint in his cheeks and the red of his ears. "You're still going to have to let me go." He pointed out.
Sephiroth let his arms fall away from Cloud's back, and Cloud untangled their legs with some regret in his motions. He stood and brushed himself off. "Shall we go?" he asked, holding out his hand for Sephiroth. He stood without use of it. He walked around Cloud and back to his room. Nice ass… 'Focus!' he shook his head once more and followed Sephiroth obediently to his bedroom.
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Cloud woke up normally the next morning. The only difference was the fact that he was curled into Sephiroth's arms in a small ball like a child in the safety of their mother's arms. His eyes opened slowly, and his mouth dropped open. He almost jerked back before the look of contented peace on the silver angel's face stopped him dead. He froze and gaped at him. 'I haven't slept so good in a really long time…' Nightmares of the destruction of some kind of sacred land always plagued his sleep. He knew he lived there at some point in time, but all he ever saw were demons in an ivory city, plundering houses, even raping some women.
He almost never actually slept. But in Sephiroth's arms he'd dreamt of a field of bright flowers and himself in odd robes, the same from his earlier vision, and the snake bracelet actually coming to life and crawling up his arms. He didn't have his wings, but he could still feel the odd sensation as if they were jutting from his back.
Sephiroth's eyes opened suddenly as if he was shocked awake. Cloud started as his eyes met his own. They were still neon green, but a sort of crimson film seemed to coat them. Cloud could only think of blood. He was terrified. Sephiroth's eyes roved his face. "You're alive…" he muttered. Cloud still gazed up at him in fear. He looked positively murderous.
Sephiroth jerked oddly and then he buried his head in Cloud's cowering shoulder. Cloud was tense and nervous, not used to a crimson and neon green eyed man giving him a look of a killer, but as he felt Sephiroth's terror he immediately relaxed and wrapped his arms around the gasping man. "It's okay…" he whispered into his hair, having an oddly over-powering desire in him to comfort him in any way possible.
Sephiroth pulled away and looked into his eyes, a sort of odd gleaming look in his neon orbs. "What?" he asked, looking absolutely confounded. Cloud was uncomfortable. Had he said something odd? "I just said it's okay. Did I offend you?" he asked, looking away form his now glowing eyes.
There was silence for a very long time. Cloud looked back to him finally still slightly in the circle of his arms. His eyes were normal and he was contemplating Cloud as if trying to figure him out. "Bad dream?" Cloud asked, trying to break the silence. Sephiroth's face darkened. "I dreamt about my homeland." Cloud perked up, but he said no more. "And?" he asked, wanting him to continue.
Sephiroth dropped him from his arms and stood swiftly. "I don't remember." He answered. "You're a really bad liar." Cloud said, making a "humph-ing" noise. Sephiroth pulled his clothes bag towards him and sat down on the ground. "What are we doing today?" he asked. "Nice changing of the subject. And nothing really." Cloud sat up, missing the warmth of his arms. His bare skin had felt so heavenly against his bare cheek.
He pulled out a tight pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Cloud brightened. "Wait! I know something that would look so freakin' awesome with that!" he cried, and before Sephiroth could protest, Cloud was up and running for his closet. He threw open the door and dug around a bit. He came up with a yellow long-sleeved shirt. The bottom part of the sleeves, where the wrist would be, had been cut off and replaced with black netted material. All Cloud's idea, of course. The netting acted as a glove as well, slipping over the hands and had holes for the fingers.
"No." Sephiroth stated glaring at Cloud. "Oh come on, let me decorate you!" Cloud said, excitedly. "I'll give you another kiss…" he winked at him and Sephiroth's ears lit up, just like Cloud had known they would. Suddenly he possessed a sneaky look that scared Cloud. His wings flapped closed twice before he agreed. "Do your worst, but I want my kiss." He snatched the shirt from Cloud and put it on slipping the t-shirt over it. Cloud bit his lip, thinking hard. Then it came to him. "Sephie-san gets a make-over…" he trailed off teasing him.
Sephiroth shrugged passively. "I just want my kiss." He stated. "After you've finished, of course." He added. Cloud was suspicious, but much too happy to actually care. He flitted over to his stereo and picked a CD. A personal favorite of his, by GLAY (AN: Another recent obsession….) The Frustrated. He grabbed a flowered bag off his dresser as HIGH COMMUNICATION blared from the speakers. Sephiroth cast him a weird look, but Cloud only laughed, barely heard over the music, and grabbed his hand, dragging him to the bathroom.
Some grumbling and a few of Cloud's squeals later, Sephiroth emerged from Cloud's bathroom with his hair braided and pulled back. (AN: Don't lie, you know you've always wanted to braid it!) He was still slightly frustrated, Cloud could tell. From the days when Cloud had wanted to become a drag queen porn star he'd used all his make-up tricks. (AN: My almost boyfriends goal for his career last week…)
The only truly noticeable change was the eye shadow and eyeliner. The eyeliner was a thick black and the eye shadow was a bright yellow liquid-like substance. The mascara didn't help. Cloud followed him and danced happily to BEAUTIFUL DREAMER and sung to the pretty melody and wonder that is GLAY. (AN: OMFG I'm like drooling all over my keyboard….) He stopped and laughed, before beginning to dance again in an upbeat manner.
He stopped and eyed Sephiroth. "Okay, with the wings you look like a Goth's wet dream." He giggled. Sephiroth took that moment to grin maniacally. The song wound down and as the string orchestra that ended the song came on, Cloud took a step back. "What?" he asked suspiciously. "My kiss. You have to give me one kiss." Cloud gulped. Why it bothered him so much he didn't know. But Sephiroth's satisfaction showed he was very aware of how bothered he was.
His eyes narrowed. "Don't play this game with me." He whispered before he bent down on his knees. (AN: I know exactly what you're thinking, especially you Devo!) "You never said where." He whispered again before he grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up. His six-pack stomach, lean and very sexy poked out at Cloud. He leaned forward and right below his navel he planted one very sensuous, very soft kiss onto Sephiroth's lower navel. (AN: Lucky bitch….)
Cloud let his lips linger for a moment too long, then lapped the same part with his tongue. Sephiroth's slightly sweaty skin was on his lips and in his mouth now. 'Perfect…' he thought to himself, closing his eyes and treasuring the taste. Sephiroth hadn't breathed and he gasped as Cloud's tongue touched his skin. Cloud dropped his shirt and stood up. He looked to Sephiroth. The man looked euphoric. And to think, Cloud hadn't even used half the seduction tricks he actually knew. Sephiroth was either one big bundle of hormones or a virgin.
Since he fell out of the sky, Cloud decided on the latter. 'Interesting…' he thought to himself. Sephiroth finally opened his eyes and the fire burning in them was so ferocious, Cloud almost had to take a step back. He looked like a wild animal. Cloud saw some inner battle being fought inside Sephiroth, and was dismayed to see resistance win. "I'm going to call Rufus." He said breathlessly.
Cloud watched the ground, not able to stop his stab of jealousy. So thinking of Rufus was what stopped him from whipping Cloud into his arms and jumping him. Maybe Sephiroth had really liked Rufus. After all, he had been awfully attractive…and rich and obviously really sexy…Cloud shook his head. He wouldn't beat himself up about it. It didn't matter. He was perfectly proud of how he looked and acted. He wasn't ashamed of himself in any way.
Cloud let Sephiroth pass him and move down the stairs and to the living room. His phone was placed upside down and off the hook on the coffee table in front of the TV. Cloud followed him; still telling himself it didn't matter. He dialed the number for Sephiroth and marched dejectedly back to his room to shower and get dressed. The last thing he heard was: "Yes, you gave me this number in case I wanted to model for you and I've thought about it…"
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Trying not to kiss the hell out of Cloud had been the hardest thing Sephiroth had ever had to do. Well, that he could remember. He'd thought being sneaky and forcing Cloud to acknowledge that he was flustered as well would be good payback. But of course Cloud had pulled the wool over his less-experienced eyes and won out again. Sephiroth hated how easily Cloud tricked him when it came to that kind of thing.
As he moved around him he recalled that morning, when, just for a moment, in his peak of wanting to comfort Sephiroth he had, obviously unknowingly, spoken a different language. It had been the language of his home. He'd recognised it from his dream, which had been oddly descriptive….
He'd been dressed in a type of warriors' clothes, he'd known this somehow without being told as often happens in dreams, it was a pair of baggy dark blue pants with a silver top that ended just below his breast. Dark black boots that seemed as tighter then the pants ended just above his ankle. His stomach was bare and a large tattoo of a serpent circling a sun wound from his navel to just below his breastbone. It reminded him of something alive, as alive as he himself was. Daggers decorated his sides, long things, maybe a type of throwing dagger. Memories had flooded to him in that dream, like acid seeping thorough his brain it washed away any feeling of comfort he'd felt as he'd slipped into a sort of trance he'd dubbed as sleep.
His eyes stung as he seemed to watch himself like a murky reflection just outside of view. He focused again on his other self in the odd fantasy clothes. He watched as Cloud emerged from around the other side of the pillar that Sephiroth was leaning against. As his flittering reflection watched, Cloud, dressed in an odd sort of dress thing, except it was like a jacket and although it swished around his ankles, the top was left open to expose the tan flesh that glinted in the film-like sunlight in the courtyard.
The serpent arm band caught his attention this time, glinting an amber-gold in the slightly demented sunlight. It was like watching everything through saran-wrap. Sephiroth's wings were shrunken, but the odd thing about the Cloud in his dream, which was what made him doubt it was Cloud at all, had wings as well. His were feathered and seemed to constantly change colours. The feathers did at least. It was much like sunlight through clouds; slowly creeping up, only to recede again like a reluctant wave.
He saw different shades of blue, from deep, deep lapis to an almost sky blue. And it was only at the base it changed. The tips stayed a constant black for some odd reason. Closing his reflection's mouth he watched his warrior self say something to Cloud. It came like through a static and in the language Cloud had unknowingly spoken before. It seemed to fade in and out, but from the looks and reactions Sephiroth judged it was Cloud attempting to get a playful rise from his warrior self and receiving Sephiroth's stone-coldness in return.
He seemed to deflate after a minute. They were in a courtyard kind of thing, the palace, he assumed, all around them, with the ivory pillars and a white fountain in the centre. Again, the repetitive serpent was apparent on the fountain, carved into it in a large circle. Sephiroth watched his other self remove himself from the pillar and face Cloud. The gist of it seemed frustrated, and Cloud looked stricken. Sephiroth wished, whatever it had been, he could take back what his other self was saying. He looked like he was hurting Cloud.
He reached out a hand and said weakly: "No…" But his plea went unheard. Then his warrior self stalked off. Cloud bent his head. He stayed in that defeated position for a few moments, but then his head shot up. He had a tear streaming down his face, and he looked heart-broken. He took off like that, and now faint sobs reached Sephiroth's ears. He found himself pursuing the other Cloud.
He ran after him, his own feet making no noise on the marble interior of the palace. The surroundings stayed murky still, like looking through pond-water. Only Cloud's running form was in his view, so he followed it faithfully. He threw open a door and slammed it shut behind him. Sephiroth watched the door, and when he saw his warrior self clacking down the hallway he and Cloud had just come from he saw the look of hurt on his opposite face and knew something about this was very wrong. He had felt the love coming from Cloud to his warrior self in the courtyard, but his other self had seemed closed off completely.
Why, he still didn't know. His other self carefully twisted the doorknob, and pushed the door open slightly. When he looked in the room he suddenly threw the door open and Cloud lying sprawled on a large canopy bed more majestic then the palace itself sobbing made him feel his own heart breaking. He rushed forward, but like a ghost, his other self passed right through him and to the edge of the bed. He saw his warrior self gather Cloud up in his arms and pull him onto his lap.
And suddenly the static barrier around this memory lifted and he could hear properly again. It was easy for him to translate the tangent his other self was raging on: "Don't cry over me. I don't deserve such sacrificial tears. Even though it can never be, even though our very classes and life-styles forbid it, the reason I never speak to you as warmly as you do, the reason I can't be in front of you for longer then a few minutes is because if I had to find words to answer your own warmth I would spill fire. And fire burns as easily as it spreads. The reason I can't stand before you, is because lurking in the shadows I find it so much easier to worship every little thing you do. And not just because you're destined to rule me, but because you are the most perfect thing and I have loved you since we first met. You were the first one to tell me I wasn't just your religious warrior protector, but a friend. You were the first one to hold out your hand in something other then fear. I owe you my life. And I give it to you, I pass this worthless little gift, so simple my life, to you and pray it will let you see how wonderful and precious you are to me."
His rant ended and Cloud sniffled in his innocent little way. He wiped his eyes and looked up to Sephiroth. He saw his warrior self was smiling at the little prince curled on his lap. Cloud made a squealing noise and threw himself at his other self. He saw their lips meet, and knew what was happening from then on in.
The memory faded, and like a movie fade-to-black cliché he found another scene rushing into his slightly scattered mind. He and Cloud were in the throne room. Once again, knowledge he gained from his dream only.
This time, Cloud was standing next to a smug-looking woman. She made him sick to look at, and suddenly he would've rather not be seeing this. He knew it would end in tears. A man who looked like Cloud, if not older and more aged sat up on the throne looking down on Cloud and the woman.
Sephiroth saw his warrior self brought in just then. He was in chains. He looked horribly different. Scars, burns and welts coated his bare chest and the chains pulled his arms back and his legs were cuffed allowing him to move, but not without the great weight. His hair had been sliced off and was now blood-coated, stained with other things and instead of being nicely brushed and flowing freely was tangled and massed on top of his head in a mussed kind of way.
He looked like shit, putting it plainly. And in a lot of pain. He saw his heavy and broken head look up to Cloud who looked stonily down on him. The woman only held his arm looking on Sephiroth with a very evil grin. She was enjoying his ultimate suffering. He knew hatred and betrayal was being shot at Cloud. He still looked unaffected.
The Sephiroth in chains crumbled and fell and the (who he assumed was king) man on the throne gave a slashing motion with his arm. He looked positively murderous. A man approached Sephiroth with a large menacing sword. But it was as the sword swung down on his head the woman screamed, and suddenly Cloud was behind the man with the sword. The obvious executioner was frozen in mid-strike. Cloud had stabbed him. He had a sword still embedded smoothly in the man's back. He crumpled around the sword and Cloud pulled it out.
It was his sword. He'd given it to Cloud. Sephiroth grasped his head as he saw Cloud grab his broken self from the ground and slice the too-thick chains. He was sure the small, thin sword would break, but it slashed through them like butter. He was free and grabbing Cloud and spreading battered wings and taking off. There were shouts, but Sephiroth saw his warrior self fly through the glass ceiling and into a bright blue sky with a nervous prince, and his one-and-only true love in his arms….something was wrong again. He felt it from Cloud….
He'd woken up then, but the dream had let loose a leak in the dam blocking his memories. Small things were coming back to him. He almost smiled to himself. It was small, but like the saran-wrapped sunlight in his dream that had later gotten brighter; it was only getting brighter….
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AN2: EEEEEEEEKKK! All my reviewers! I love you all to bits and pieces! Thank you soooooooooooo much for gracing me with your nice reviews! I thought there weren't enough truly good Sephie/Cloud fics, so you know. I tried REALLY hard on this fic. Basically, no flames please. Thanks. Haven't gotten any yet for this fic, but have for others', and it's always some dumbass who only spouts crap like: "You can't writer good. Me go re66ad story that9's bettar" you know? Like, give me some criticism at least. Oh well. Oh yah, in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM DO I NOW OR EVER OWN ANYTHING FF 7, ITS ALL SOME OTHER LUCKY, RICH, PERSON'S IDEAS. Oh yes, and terribly sorry if Cloud seems really OOC in this, but I kinda wanted to go with he's the light to Sephiroth's dark…yeah, that. And sorry, at the end I kinda came in weak. Sorta tired when writing that. Kay. Now that that's over with. Thanks billions and billions to these people:
Arkadia, Marikfan1, SolitareAikanaro, Xelena, Emey, Oso, Darkmaster2, Lady Shala, Bennoda4evr, RuByMoOn17
Nirina Illusier: I am in love with you. Yes, you got the songs! wOOt, and if that wasn't cool enough, you told me how to say my phrases! These are my favourite kinds too. Just gotta love the boy-love baby, yeah!
Devo: der. Yer the whole reason I write this thing. Luv ya sexy!
Matsuda-san: (cool name) yer review was sooooo cuuute! And you got the songs too! Skittles for EVERYONE!
BoB's Angel 667: Tee-hee! "Bring out yer dead!" "I'm not dead!" "Says he's not dead?" "Don't listen to him!" Monty Python is why comedy makes me laugh…..
(Any questions, give me a review, happy to answer! No flames please!)
Imagine all the people living life in peace….
-Kurai-Tenshi of Doom
