For a long while it felt like Cloud was holding his breath. The tension wouldn't go away. It was thick and heavy in the air, and soon everyone noticed.
Zack tried to get information, probably from both of them, but Cloud remained silent on the matter. After a while his friend dropped getting into the bottom of it. Cloud wasn't sure if he gave up or Sephiroth gave details.
But if Zack knew then he would be giving him advice on the matter. So then the general was being equally as silent. He wasn't sure whether to be grateful or surprised.
The first time Hojo's assistant came for him, Cloud was surprised. He showed up at the apartment one evening. Sephiroth opened the door and let him inside.
"Hello! My name is Chadley. I will be taking over for your mako injections. Because of your unique reaction, it has been decided that it is best to have this done at night."
What? A boy? He couldn't be older than thirteen. He reached Cloud's chest. Pale white hair, pale skin, and light blue eyes. Over one of them was a spectacle. He carried a small bag.
"What's the meaning of this?" Cloud turned to the general.
"Did I forget to mention that because of your episode of throwing such a huge fit, Hojo is arranging to send one of his assistants to you for the injections from now on?" Sephiroth recalled the blond was too out of it to bring this up.
"I think that was left out because of my reaction." Cloud read his mind.
"Hence is why it's decided best to do this at night." Chadley added with enthusiasm.
"You're...young." The blond was at a total loss.
"Yes. Like you, I have shown I can excel well beyond normal capabilities. While you're with strength and strategies, I am best at the scientific matter." Chadley proudly proclaimed. "I am curious, what was your ultimate goal with gaining the full loyalty of the Slums?"
Cloud hesitated. He eyed Sephiroth, who returned to his laptop for further work he had to finish. It seems he moved his office to the apartment during free hours.
"To bring change. Drastic changes. Changes I can't mention because I would have a red target on my back." Cloud was wary of this boy, he did work in the Science and Research.
"I assure you I keep everything confidential. Nothing ever leaves this room. You are my first client, I don't want to cause trouble. I hope someday you can learn to trust me." Chadley read him like an open book.
Cloud pursed his lips. He still wasn't sure what to think of all this. He would never have thought Hojo would be so accommodating. He saw this as a trap in some way.
"So besides the heat you feel, are there any other symptoms?" Chadley inquired as he rummaged through his bag.
"Sensitivity to lighting. And sound is a bit sharper. I have occasional headaches, but they go away." Cloud sat down on the couch where the boy joined him.
"I see. Are you getting any help with the heat problem?"
"I don't feel comfortable answering to a child about this topic." Cloud deadpanned.
"I understand the business, Cloud. There's no reason to be shy or uncomfortable with me. Remember I've proven myself for Professor Hojo to take under despite my age."
"...Then no. I've managed on my own so far." He still felt uncomfortable.
"I see. Do keep in mind mako has many ways to be transferred. Should you decide on a partner, let me know and we can take into account their mako levels in comparison to yours. This is to properly adjust your intake. Should we give you too much then you will experience mako poisoning. So therefore it is vital you be honest with us."
Cloud blushed. He couldn't believe he was actually listening to this. Least of all from a child. He even heard te typing falter from the table.
"Do you mind if I take a sample of your blood before we begin?" Chadley asked for permission.
"I guess not." He was lost in thought by now.
He let the boy get to work. Cloud couldn't bring himself to watch the process. He winced at the pinch, but it was over quickly. He was surprised at how well practiced Chadley seemed at this.
"Okay, so this next part will only take a few seconds. One, two," And jab. Cloud flinched, feeling cold as the mako was given to him.
"All right. I will see myself out. Oh, and here's my contact information if you don't feel comfortable to give any updates to Hojo." Chadley handed his own personal card.
The blond pulled out his PHS to put Chadley's number in. As he finished he felt dizzy. He raised a hand to his head to steady himself. Damn it was effecting him faster this time around.
He left to go take care of himself. He noticed the typing of keys faltering once more as he got up. They picked up again as he went to his room.
Cloud couldn't help but imagine hands not his own exploring his body. The same hands that typed away in the next room over. He tried to push these thoughts away, but they invaded just the same.
He bit his lip hard to hold back the sounds that wanted to escape. Cloud tasted his own blood as he imagined Sephiroth's hands jerking him off instead. He imagined those eyes burning with desire.
It wasn't hard to imagine. That night at the warehouse. Sephiroth's eyes burned with desire. They even dilated with excitement as they danced.
And Cloud whimpered as he came. It was all too rushed. He understood a little more with Sephiroth's observation of rushing head first. He was too focused chasing to take in everything. And this time he felt empty in the aftermath.
But he couldn't bring himself to ask for help.
It was more than just pride, he told himself. It was because of those nightmares that haunted him. He didn't miss the warmth that calmed him. Cloud certainly didn't miss those arms embrace him like he was the most precious thing in the world.
No it was not because of pride.
And still that feeling of suffocation as the tension went higher still clung. It all came to a boiling point for their first mission out. Sephiroth and a special team were to eliminate monsters of some town.
Everyone sat in their own little groups in transport. There was only one spot left. Silently Cloud took it, but he couldn't meet Sephiroth's eye. This was physically the closest they have been after nearly a month of avoiding each other.
Cloud couldn't help but bite his lip. Next to him he noticed the general being equally stressed. It came off in waves. And it did little to soothe the blond as his own mind raced.
And then he felt it. The heat giving rise. And made Cloud panic on the inside. Now wasn't the time to be feeling that.
He still felt his insides coil. To his horror some sick part of him wanted to climb on top of Sephiroth. As if he would actually do that!
Yet he couldn't get the image out of his head.
The war within himself continued as he sat there, desperately wishing for this to be done and over with. Whether anyone noticed he didn't care at this point. It was taking everything in him not to make a fool of himself.
They finally arrived.
Sephiroth was going over the plans when the monsters charged at them. Cloud broke the line and swung. He ignored the general calling his name to fall back. He didn't even hear, too busy to release this pent up energy to make something bleed.
"Strife!" Sephiroth called out. He tried to charge after but a monster intervened his path.
He originally meant for a pincer tactic. Two teams on either side, then pressure their targets into smaller area as they kill off everything in their path. And now Cloud was caught in the center of the horde.
So much for cooperation.
"Circle the horde!" Sephiroth ordered. This would make them more spread out, but it was the best option he had. This way someone would be ready to rush in should Cloud collapse.
The Second Class Soldiers followed his lead. They were used to working with Sephiroth by now to understand his strategies. One of the men closest to Sephiroth watched as Cloud seemed to be holding his own with ease.
"Damn, he has Rut bad." The Soldier commented.
"What would happen the longer he refuses help?" Sephiroth turned to the Soldier, who blushed.
"He will go crazy like this and attack anyone and everything. I've seen my best friend get like that. Refused help because he thought it would make him gay. Then one day he lost his shit. He wouldn't snap out of it while we tried to punch some sense into him. And well...he made us fight until he couldn't get back up." The Soldier gulped at the last part.
"I've heard that fighting helps though! With some people anyway." Another Soldier added.
Sephiroth scowled. He supposed he would try the sparring option first. See if that could calm the blond down.
When the monsters were taken care of, Cloud was too out of it. He lunged at another Soldier. He expertly blocked. Sephiroth leaped into the air for a strike before Cloud could even think of taking a smaller piece of his sword.
Both Soldiers rolled out of the way of Masamune. Cloud twirled as he came back up to swing at the general. Sephiroth twisted to block with ease. He stared into wild blue eyes.
They were different than the first night he saw them. There was no sense that Cloud was all there. It concerned Sephiroth that this might be a more serious issue than he originally thought.
Around them the Seconds backed off. They recognized a bad Rut. They had either seen for themselves or heard the stories. Although this was rarer than the fevers, this was still known well enough among them.
And so they danced.
Cloud was doing most of the attacking. Sephiroth blocked with ease, hoping to tire him out. When it proved that the mako treatments were improving Cloud's stamina, the general gave in and began his onslaught of attacks.
He didn't hold back.
Several eyes watched as Cloud focused on the defense. It was like watching that video but in live action. And the cameras couldn't do them justice in comparison.
And soon enough some noticed the way Sephiroth's body language changed. His eyes dilated. And his legs moved as if a bit constricted. It didn't take a lot of imagination as to why.
Suddenly the Soldiers felt like they were watching some strange mating ritual between two birds of prey. Whoever the winner will be the one to dominate. They backed away a little more, debating whether to let them be for some privacy or ensure that one of them wasn't going to die.
It felt like forever that neither would give in. Neither could land a hit on the other. One couldn't overpower the other.
Until Cloud finally began to tire.
He rushed to use all of his power at once. He barely had anything to reserve his strength. And now as Sephiroth dragged on the fight he was losing his focus.
Catching on, Sephiroth unleashed a fury of attacks. Cloud barely kept pace to block. He even struggled to breathe, it all happened so fast. Suddenly Masamune pushed with all of Sephiroth's strength. And Cloud lost his footing and fell on his back.
Quickly he used First Tsurugi as a shield. Cloud felt his arms shake as he held it up and withhold from the powerful strike. Above him, Sephiroth hovered. His spare hand reached down to grasp Cloud's throat. The blond didn't even fight. He couldn't with the pressure of Masanune pressing down.
"Are you back to your old self? Or do I need to cast Sleep?" Sephiroth questioned, voice strained.
Cloud wanted neither. He raised a knee to the general's gut. The grip tightened on his throat. He gasped as he tried to take in air. The blond sensed when Sephiroth casted Sleep and then he knew no more.
Sephiroth stood over him. A part of him felt he should feel triumphant. But he knew what the blond had tried to instigate at the end. A reason to kill him. The general saw the desperate move for what it was and refused to grant it.
"Should we call a medi? Sir?" A Soldier approached warily.
"No. But we might be in a separate ride." Sephiroth reached his PHS to make a call.
"Tseng? There's been a hiccup. We need our own escort home."
"Any injuries?" Tseng sighed.
"No. But Strife is unconscious. I casted Sleep. He left me no choice. His Rut pushed him to fight us."
"...I see. Are you sure you will be able to handle him once he wakes up?"
"Yes." Sephiroth knew he could.
"Very well. Send me your coordinates."
The Seconds refused to leave his side until the helicopter pulled up. When it landed not far from them, Sephiroth carried Cloud in his arms. Another Soldeir carried the blond's weapon to place it inside the helicopter.
Sephiroth dismissed the Soldier and he returned to the rest of the group. They made their way to the large van, ready to go home. Sephiroth hoped this wouldn't get leaked.
He hadn't count on someone spying them from a ways and posted the video. Sephiroth became aware of it just as he landed. He ignored all calls at that point.
"What should I tell them?" Tseng inquired.
"I'm taking care of his Rut." Sephiroth answered, and it was enough of a good answer with the way the Turk sighed.
So the general carried the blond towards their living quarters. Along the way he knew there were stares. But neither were injured. And rumors had spread of what happened combined with the video.
Sephiroth locked his door.