"Ah, so the rumors are true after all." A voice made Cloud's blood boil.

Swiftly he turned with his grip tight on his sword. He glared daggers at the man who somehow found him even down here. Roche helped himself to a smile while he raised his hands in means he wasn't a threat.

"What do you want?" Cloud huffed, realizing that the other man didn't even carry his sword. And a part of him relaxed with that detail. "How did you find me?"

"Word spreads around about you. A mysterious Mercenary with a big sword who has helped out Sectors 5, 6, and 7 of the Slums. I had hoped you survived the plate falling. So I've been wandering between 5 and 6 in the hopes to find you."

"Why?" Cloud frowned, dumbfounded.

This guy was lucky it was night time. Cloud couldn't find any sleep, so he helped himself to a little walk around Sector 5. He didn't count on meeting anyone, though.

"Cloud? What's going on?" Tifa's voice startled both of them. Roche tilted his head as he finally had a name to the face.

"Did you follow me?" Cloud stammered, not sure why he's embarrassed.

"Yeah. I couldn't sleep. So I looked out the window and you were leaving. And I thought maybe you could use some company. So, who's this?" Tifa studied the young man who was definitely Soldier.

"The names Roche, my fair lady. And I am a friend." He sensed something was involved with these two. "If you two would like some time alone, I can leave."

Cloud wondered why he was being too nice. He couldn't help but stare at Roche. This was different. And so weird that it was throwing him off.

"No, that's fine. I think I'm the one interrupting." Tifa shook her head. She glanced at Cloud, her eyes worried. "You be careful."

"I've beat him before. I can do it again." Cloud assured confidently.

"Just make sure he doesn't involve the rest." Tifa giggled. The rest being the company.

When she left Roche couldn't help a smile.

"So your name is Cloud."

"What do you want?" He scowled.

"Ever since we met, my heart hungers." Roche advanced one step forward. He stopped when Cloud grasped his sword handle.

"For what? Vengeance? You didn't even bring your sword." Cloud countered.

"No, not vengeance. A different kind of dance. One where you ride me." Roche cupped Cloud's chin. The mercenary blinked, too shocked to push the hand away. "I see you're interested."

"You're delusional." Cloud pulled away. But even he knew his blush was still noticeable.

"Then how about a date?"

"Right now?" The mercenary raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Wall Market isn't that far."

"I don't think so." Cloud wasn't interested being the talk of rumors of being seen walking around with a Soldier.

"Then let me cut to the chase. I get us a room, and we have a bit of fun? Hm? You look like you need to distress. I can help with that." Roche proposed. He even held out his hand.

Cloud studied it. Then his face. He wasn't all for looks in his partners. But something about the eyes drew him in. And maybe that's what Roche picked up on when they first met.

"Fine. But no funny business." Cloud accepted the offered hand.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that. It's all pleasure." Roche smirked as he lead the mercenary along.

Embarrassingly Roche took them to Sector 6. And booked them a room for the night. Cloud worriedly glanced around, hoping no one will recognize him. Fortunately everyone was still in shock from the recent tragedy.

"Relax. No one will know." Roche picked up on his anxiety.

"Enjoy your stay!" The hotel clerk smiled as he held out the key.

For some reason that statement made Cloud blush even more. Roche took the keys in one hand, then grasped Cloud's hand again to pull him along.

They entered the small room and Roche pinned Cloud against the wall. The action was so sudden the mercenary gasped softly. With how close they were Cloud felt how hard the other was and felt his own pulse quicken.

"You set the mood. Slow and sensual? Or hard and fast?" The Soldier's hands explored sensually. His hands were so gentle, a contrast to the burning passion in his eyes.

"We're not lovers." Cloud hissed. If he wanted a lover, he would have chosen one of the girls. Roche smirked.

"Hard and fast it is." In a flash he began to work on Cloud's clothes. Once the shock gave way into desire Cloud began to do the same.

When every article of clothing was removed they admired each other. Roche looked like a kid left unsupervised in a candy store and given a hundred Gil. And the excitement rolling off of him fueled Cloud's own.

Roche pulled them onto the bed. For a love hotel, why was the bed so small? It would barely fit both of them. To fix this problem Cloud was positioned straddling Roche's lap. His hand reached for the Soldier's to keep balance. Roche chuckled, earning a glare that wasn't so threatening because of flushed cheeks.

"Have you had another man before?" Roche asked as he raised his spare hand to Cloud's entrance.

"Course I have." The mercenary tried to sound brave. But even he knew his voice was shaking.

"I'll be gentle." Roche winked. Of course he saw through the lie.

The first finger was slightly uncomfortable. But it didn't take long for Cloud to get accustomed to it. The second one stung a bit. At this point Roche began coaching him in how to move his hips.

"Move your hips up and down. Use your legs if you need to, baby." Roche guided him.

Cloud was growing frustrated at this point. Until a hand grasped his hip and helped. His body instinctively followed the command of that hand. And finally Cloud was beginning to get the hang of it.

"That's it, baby. Just like that." Roche smiled.

Cloud came to a realization in that moment. His hand was still grasping the Soldier's. And his other hand was currently finger fucking him. So then whose hand is at his hip?

Cloud felt his heart race in a slight panic. The mysterious hand was gloved with wrist accessories. Only one person came to mind with that information. He refused to glance behind him to confirm this.

After this conclusion Cloud sensed him. He was currently too busy to give any sort of response to the apparition. He didn't even notice a third finger joined in until they found a spot that had Cloud reeling.

He threw his head back with a sharp cry. His hips paused as he gathered himself. Roche smiled at the display.

"Beautiful." The Soldier complimented. This earned him a glare as Cloud began moving again, this time making sure to hit that spot.

"Don't deny it. You're beautiful. A raging fire is inside of you. Wishing to come out of its cage and have some fun. You're too scared of destroying everything around you. But it seems we've found another outlet to let the beast out."

Cloud bit back any response. Because strangely, Roche was right. How did it take some crazy Soldier obsessed with motorcycles to see through him? Well, perhaps Cloud was his own brand of crazy. And Roche had an eye for such things.

That stupid smile was back. Before Cloud could comment on it, Roche pulled his hand away from the enticing hole. This earned an undignified whine from the mercenary.

"Don't worry, baby. I'll make it better." Roche promised as he positioned his cock.

Almost a bit too eagerly Cloud took him in. He smirked a little upon hearing Roche moan. His hand reached a bony hip, and Cloud briefly wondered when the gloved hand left.

It didn't matter. He began to move. First testing how his body adjusted to Roche inside. After proving that they had stretched him well enough, Cloud began a harder and faster pace.

"That's it, baby. Just like that." Roche was getting way too comfortable calling him that.

In the moment Cloud couldn't bring himself to care. He was too eager to find that spot again. He gripped the hand that was intertwined with his own. Roche returned the gesture.

Suddenly Cloud found that spot again. Eagerly he moved, chasing that feeling of hitting it over and over. It was as if his own body wasn't fully his anymore. He couldn't believe the sounds he was hearing was his own.

He felt the ghostly hand return. This time with another. Cloud gasped as he felt them feel over his body. One was caressing his stomach muscles, while the other began playing with a very perked nipple.

"Even as you lay with another, understand that you are mine." Sephiroth's voice spoke with venom. Cloud shook his head defiantly, whimpering.

"Let me see all of you." Roche encouraged, misunderstanding the whole situation.

Cloud felt immense pressure inside his skull. It took everything in him not to cry out. He felt two different hands exploring his body in an attempt to soothe him.

He wasn't going to admit to himself that he leaned into the touches of the leather gloved hands. Nope. Never. Not in a million years.

"Allow me a chance to see the beast within you?" Roche encouraged again, voice soothing and hopeful.

Cloud gave into the urge. As he did the pain gave way to immense pleasure. It was better than riding a cock, for this was felt through every cell in his body. The apparition of Sephiroth disappeared. But he remained tightly close in his mind. Cloud felt his presence lingering.

"Damn, you're wild." Roche commented, almost out of breath since Cloud's movements became erratic.

Cloud opened his eyes to glance down. And Roche went very still. Gone were the mostly blue tainted with mako. Instead the eyes of a certain dead general staring right back. And it was like staring into the eyes of a predator.

A smile formed. Roche wasn't sure what exactly made it so scary. Even though it was a beautiful smile, his heart raced in pure panic. Until the spell was broken when Cloud threw his head back as he found release.

The mercenary shuddered violently. His choked cry was followed by gasps. Roche grunted at how tight Cloud was and his own peak was reached seconds after. He couldn't bother to hold back the moans.

Amazingly their hands were still intertwined. Cloud relied upon it to keep himself steady as he calmed down. When he glanced down again he noticed the relieved expression on the Soldier.

"While that was fun, it's time for cuddles." Roche pulled the mercenary down to lay on top of him.

"I'm sorry - what?" Cloud was too shocked to properly shove himself away.

"It's called aftercare. I don't like leaving the people I sleep with right after we finish. Especially after an intense round." The Soldier explained.

"How was that intense for you?" Cloud wondered.

"It was intense for you. You let me have a peek at your true self. I am inclined to believe not even your closest friends have seen a hint of what I've seen." In truth, Roche was also trying to get over those eyes that will definitely be haunting him for some time.

But he wasn't going to express those details. Somehow, Roche felt that it wasn't his place to say. And he didn't want to come off as insane.

Cloud saw the point. He sensed there was more that Roche wasn't telling. But he didn't press the matter. Instead he laid his head on the broad chest. He didn't care how sweaty they both were when this actually felt relaxing.

After a few minutes of them cuddling, Cloud understood why Roche made aftercare important. It allowed him time to process the whole experience they just had. He even thought over the apparition of Sephiroth.

Maybe it was time to accept that this wasn't just all in his head. But that was an issue for another time. Cloud listened to the heart under his ear until he nodded off to sleep.

They were rudely awoken in the early hours by Roche's work phone. It went off loud enough to startle both seasoned warriors. Cloud grumbled as he got off to allow Roche get up.

The Soldier ended up missing the call. But he sighed at the name. And without another word he began to collect his clothes to leave.

"What time is it?" Cloud panicked when he realized he wasn't in the house where his friends were taking refuge.

"Around seven. Or close to it. Say, do you have a number I can take down?" Roche inquired.

"I don't have one." Cloud was honest.

"Well, then. Do you have the energy of one quick round?" The Soldier hadn't even started putting his clothes back on.

Cloud thought about it. As he did he made the mistake of admiring Roche's naked body. He sighed as he gave in.

"Make it quick."

When Cloud finally made the long walk back to Aerith's house, he found Barret and Tifa waiting outside. They had just finished breakfast and were waiting on him to go start helping out people who needed helping.

"Where the hell you've been?" Barret's glare wasn't very threatening behind his sunglasses.

"Taking care of business." Cloud wasn't interested in giving them any details.

"What kind of business?" Tifa eyed him up and down. Her eyes latched onto a detail and mirth can be read in her expression. "Oh, my. I didn't know you swung both ways, Cloud."

"What?" He was immediately alarmed.

"You've got a hickey on your neck." Tifa pointed.

He raised his hand to feel it. A dull pain from the touch. Cloud scowled. Damn it all, this must have been from the round earlier this morning. Now Roche was in for it.

"Will this become a distraction?" Barret asked.

The mercenary was a little surprised. He was embarrassed to not realize the mark. But they didn't seem to care which way he swung. Then again they were open to taking down the biggest corporation by any means necessary. Someone's love life wouldn't be considered top tier entertainment.

"No." Cloud shook his head. "A one time deal."

"Good. We don't need anyone else getting caught in our affairs." Barret left it at that.

Tifa and Cloud shared a look. She knew who it was. A Soldier. But if he was someone Cloud dealt with before, then he wouldn't be a problem. So she remained quiet on this little detail.

Cloud was silently grateful. In the meantime, he wondered when would be a good time to bring up these hallucinations. He supposed when the timing felt right then he can bring it up.