Angeal was cooking with the help of Zack while Cloud showered. He could faintly hear them talk but couldn't make out what was said. It wouldn't surprise him if Zack was telling his old mentor the strange events of the day.

It didn't bother him. Cloud couldn't find it in himself to care. Instead he focused on washing away all his stresses for the day. The back of his mind noticed when things went quiet in the kitchen but he didn't pay the change any mind. There was a slight commotion but it stopped soon as it started.

Until the bathroom door opens.

"Zack?" Cloud poked his head out and stopped short.

Sephiroth was in the middle of undressing. Soon as he discarded all of his clothing the green eyes met his blues. And both of them froze as they both came to the same realization.

That was real? That dream, or whatever it was, was real? Cloud opened his mouth to ask. Sephiroth gently pressed a finger on his lips. His eyes silently promised they will speak of it later. Right, they had guests who were awake and probably listening in.

"Move over. I need to wash off the disgusting filth of the labs."

Cloud didn't need to be told twice. His cheeks flushed as he moved closer to the shower head. Sephiroth stepped in and adjusted the water so it was over both of them. For a moment they stood there in their closeness. They stood just as in the dream. Despite the warm water Cloud shivered.

"Is it too cold?" Sephiroth noticed.

"No, it's fine." Cloud mumbled.

A hand reached for his hip. The same as the dream. The blond released a shuddering breath, trying to be as quiet as possible. Lips kissed his neck affectionately. His little heart could burst.

"I won't hurt you, Cloud. You have my word." Sephiroth whispered hotly against his ear.

Cloud could only nod as he set aside his anxiety and fear. Outside someone turned on the TV, setting the volume a little high. It was to drown out any sounds of them together and Cloud blushed brighter.

"Relax. Allow me to take care of you." Sephiroth chuckled, noticing his lover tense.

Cloud thought he meant help with his growing erection. Instead a washcloth with a coat of body soap tenderly washed and scrubbed all over his body. He started at the shoulders, down the arms. Once both were done the wet cloth fixated on his chest and stomach.

Tips of fingers teased at his nipples for a split second. When Cloud whimpered they moved on, ignoring the attention where it was needed much to the blond's frustration. When the cloth gave attention on his back the other hand massaged the tension in his muscles.

Cloud fully relaxed then, leaning into the touches. He was in utter bliss. All too soon the cloth began on his legs. Once again he felt his need grow and ache with resurgence. Fingers ghosted over his entrance before continuing down. One hand completely ignored the now fully hard erection.

The blond pants softly, trying to rein in his frustration. The cloth was tantalizingly slow to finish with his legs. Once it was done the washcloth was set aside and instead replaced with shampoo. Cloud closed his eyes as fingers massaged his scalp, spreading the shampoo over his blond spikes.

Once the shampoo was fully washed out a hand suddenly grasped him without warning. Cloud gasped as he shook. He bit his lip to stop more noises from escaping as that hand worked him. His hips jerked to push his rear end against Sephiroth. Cloud felt the hardness behind him and he lost it and came.

To his surprise he didn't make any noise. Cloud leaned fully against Sephiroth, panting. He felt the throbbing against his ass and a new need took over. He wanted a taste.

Without hesitation Cloud turned to kneel before Sephiroth. Those green eyes watched with surprise. The image of Cloud kneeling before him burned into his memory as the blond licked the tip. Their gazes never broke eye contact as Cloud took him into his mouth.

It took some getting used to, having never done this before. Sephiroth was patient. And his patience was rewarded as Cloud slowly worked to take all of him into his wet cavern. As the blond relaxed Sephiroth lost himself. His hand gripped wet blond spikes as he took over to guide Cloud's head.

Sephiroth moved his hips to fuck that inviting mouth. Cloud welcomed him as his hands moved to upper muscular thighs, unsure on what else to do. As Sephiroth increased in tempo their eyes never looked away. Never before have they been this close before.

It was if that dream had awaken something new between them. A new level of intimacy. And they both craved it. All too soon Sephiroth came. He gripped the blond hair almost painfully as he forced himself at the back of the throat. Encouraging Cloud to swallow him all.

And Cloud did. He relished in the taste and swallowed all Sephiroth had to offer. He watched with a growing sense of pride as Sephiroth shuddered, gathering his breath. He even had to lean against the wall in order to remain standing. When the hand let go of his hair Cloud got back up on his feet to embrace Sephiroth.

They stood there together, committing this moment forever in their hearts. Their eyes met. And both came to the same conclusion. There was no need to question about that dream. It had opened a new door for them in their relationship. There was no need to speak a word of it.

When they finally emerged from the bathroom Zack was awkward. He wouldn't look at either of them in the eye. Angeal on the other hand acted like he heard nothing minutes before. He had his fair share of embarrassing moments when Sephiroth was with Genesis. And Genesis had no problem letting anyone and everyone know then they were doing the dirty.

Instead Angeal focused on helping Sephiroth forget the harsh ordeals of a day in the labs. He had gone all out with dinner. So together the four men sat down and ate dinner with a movie. Towards the end of the movie, Zack's phone goes off.

"Who is calling at this hour?" Angeal wondered.

"It's Tseng!" Zack read the name and answered. "Hello? Is something wrong?"

"Actually, I have good news. Who is all there with you?"

"Just Cloud, Seph and Angeal."

"Put me on speaker." Tseng instructed.

"Okay. What's the good news?" Zack changed the settings so they could all hear.

"Professor Hojo deems Cloud as safe to stay in the SOLDIER program."

Zack bellowed out in a hoo-ra and pulled Cloud into a hug. The blond grinned in excitement. Angeal gives him a pat on his back. Sephiroth smirked with pride.

"There are stipulations, however. Cloud is to undergo therapy to ensure he is on the right path in his recovery. There's already a doctor lined up and everything."

"Okay? I guess?" Cloud didn't know to feel about this stipulation. "Anything else?"

"That's all in that regard. But that's not the only news I have. The forensics results have arrived."

And Cloud felt his heart sink. As the news hit them all Sephiroth wrapped an arm around him protectively.

"I cannot go over details on the phone. So I'm scheduling for you to come into my office to talk this over on what you wish to do whether you want to press charges or not. Which do you prefer, morning or afternoon?"

"Morning. First thing. I'll go crazy if I'll wait too long." Cloud admits.

"All right. I have you down for 8AM sharp. You can have Zack escort you into my office. However for legal reasons he cannot stay."

"Okay. I understand."

"Good. In the meantime, good evening gentlemen." Tseng hung up.

"Well, it's my time to go to bed." Angeal gathered his boots. "And Cloud? Good luck tomorrow."

"Thanks. I'm gonna need it." Cloud nods.

A few minutes after the commander left there was nothing but uncomfortable silence. The first to move was Zack, who retrieved all the plates and began to work on the dishes. Unable to handle the tension in the air Cloud quickly made his way to the master bedroom.

"I'm sure you've noticed." Zack sent a look at the general as he stood. Sephiroth paused in following his lover to study his lieutenant.

"I have. What of it?" He knew what he meant.

"Don't you find it, I don't know, unsettling?" Zack scrambled for the right words.

"Why is his transformation unsettling to you?"

"It's just - Look, I've known him before all of this shit happened to him. Okay? He was sweet, a heart of gold, and always down to earth. Now it's like, I'm looking at an entirely different person. And it makes me miss that shy little boy he used to be."

"Change happens. What was done to him did a lot of damage. If he stayed as that shy boy you knew, he would be dead by now." Sephiroth held his ground as Zack flinched and dropped a plate.

The plate shattered into pieces on the floor. Zack cursed himself as he carefully stepped over the shards to grab a broom. Sephiroth made his escape into his bedroom. Zack sighed when looked up and saw that the general was gone.

"Is everything all right?" Cloud poked his head up from underneath the blanket.

"Zack dropped a plate. He's fine." Sephiroth assured as he climbed into bed and wrapped himself around his lover.

"You sure he doesn't need help?"

"He's fine. For now, let's rest."

Cloud didn't argue. He didn't want to leave the security of Sephiroth's embrace.