Cloud felt the welcoming ceremony a bit excessive. His story was now well known. And everyone celebrated at the success.
"I don't feel like I deserve this." Cloud frowned.
"I don't think anyone does in these situations." Sephiroth thought for a moment. "Except for maybe Genesis."
Cloud didn't say anything in response. His mind was still reeling over them having wings. A part of him was wary of them. But all Sephiroth has done is show affection and care. He took care of the blond's needs much like a mother would.
Mother...
The word had a profound effect on him.
He felt a sharp headache. Cloud raised a hand to his head. A hand grasped his wrist. Cloud opened his eyes to Sephiroth, concern on his face.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"...A sharp headache. Like I'm supposed to remember something? But it slipped away when you touched me." Cloud explained best he could.
"Keep an eye on these symptoms. They never did anything with you, right?"
"That lab coat in Wutai? No. She was arguing with others what to do with me." He supposed he should be thankful for that.
"You should report this to Chadley. I've never seen you like that." Sephiroth insisted.
A few hours later when Chadley came to exam his condition, Cloud did so. He explained he had a strange headache.
"When did this happen?" Chadley gathered a tablet to type notes.
"Earlier today."
"Interesting. Maybe withdrawal? Do you know what caused this headache?"
"I thought of mother." Cloud was lost in thought. Sephiroth and Chadley exchanged a look.
His eyes seemed to be seeing, and yet not.
"As in your mother, or a mother?" The boy asked.
"What?" Cloud snapped to.
Chadley repeated the question.
"I don't know? It just came to mind. Then the pain started. It stopped when Sephiroth grabbed my wrist." He seemed confused.
"General, if I may be direct, please update me if he does this more often." Chadley addressed Sephiroth.
"I will. What exactly does this mean though?"
"The headaches could be withdrawals from mako. However a simple word shouldn't trigger them. Then to go away soon as you touch him? That's strange as well."
"Is this something to be worried about?" Cloud tensed.
"Only if it gets worse. I won't know until then and we begin tests. For right now there are too many factors. You are malnourished. You've just survived from being a POW. I wouldn't be surprised of mental scarring. Should this continue as you get better physically and mentally then I will begin to look deeper into these symptoms."
Cloud frowned. That seems a bit late in his opinion. But he figured the boy had some valid points. There were too many factors.
"I advise he takes a few weeks off to get his weight back. Under your careful eye he will be allowed to train so long as he doesn't over exert himself. I suggest maybe wait a week before starting classes again. Does this all seem doable?"
"Yes." Cloud and Sephiroth agreed at the same instance.
"I won't push therapy on you unless you ask. I leave that up to you. If you feel overwhelmed then contact me and I will see about working around our schedules." Chadley offered.
"I don't know yet." This wasn't Cloud's first round of losing his mind. This time though this wasn't just dreams of yet to come.
"You have my number in case you change your mind. I believe this concludes my visit. Oh, before I leave. Thank you."
"Hm?" Cloud blinked.
"For coming back. I know I should be thanking Commander Rhapsodos, but I'm thanking you." And with that Chadley left.
What was that about?
"Do you feel up to eating your favorite?" Sephiroth asked.
"I can try. Yeah. Nothing will be as yummy as you though." He flashed a smirk. My, was that a hint of a blush on the general?
"Careful. Else I might jump on you if you keep talking like that." Sephiroth warned as he ordered their food.
"Maybe that's the goal?" Cloud had mischief in his eyes as he spoke.
"Now you're in for it." Sephiroth snatched him from the couch. Cloud laughed as he was being carried into the bedroom.
"Since you said yummy, perhaps it's time you try this."
This time was different. Cloud was pushed down until his face was in Sephiroth's crotch. He blushed at the implications. He understood the assignment and unzipped the general's pants.
He gasped at the sight of it already hard. Cloud eagerly opened his mouth first to lick. He found he liked the taste. Or maybe it's because it's Sephiroth. Cloud started with the tip.
Sephiroth watched with hungry eyes as Cloud worked his way down. He couldn't go all the way, but he got far. Sephiroth groaned at both the sight and the feeling.
Encouraged the blond began a pace. Slow at first until he found a comfortable rhythm. Sephiroth found breathing difficult. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the sight.
Cloud moaned as he tasted precum. It was teasing and he began to increase everything to have the real thing. Sephiroth tensed suddenly. The blond looked up to meet that hungry gaze and it was enough.
Sephiroth actually cried out as he came.
The blond held back his moan as he went still where he was to swallow everything Sephiroth had to give. Cloud realized he wouldn't mind doing this more often.
When Sephiroth was spent Cloud pulled away. He squirmed, still hard between his own legs. Sephiroth noticed of course.
"Fingers or mouth?" He offered.
"Fingers - please!" Cloud was amazingly close.
He was pulled up into a familiar lap. Pants pulled down just enough to expose him. Cloud's gasps turned into moans as two fingers curled into him. He began moving his hips desperately. A third finger joined and Cloud didn't last much longer.
"Sephiroth!" He cried out.
"You get off from sucking me. You're a treasure indeed." Sephiroth smirked at the deep blush.
Their food arrived a minute later. Sephiroth made himself presentable to collect their order. Cloud wobbled his way into the living room to eat at the table. He sat down as the general sorted between their food.
The rest of the day was peaceful.
Until that night.
Cloud was familiar with strange dreams. But this was odd. He dreamed of voices. He was standing up, trying to listen. One of them was soothing, but there was something hidden underneath.
Something sinister.
Come to me, child. Come to mother.
"Mother..." Cloud repeated.
An image of his mother came to mind. And suddenly the other being was infuriated. He felt the fury rising and flinched. Although there were no words he sensed the disappointment, the anger. And it hurt.
Another voice was calling out to him.
" - oud! Hey! Cloud! Spike! Snap out of it!"
Someone was shaking him.
Cloud blinked. And suddenly he came to. He panicked at the sight of Zack. And they were in the lounge? Wasn't he just in bed with Sephiroth?
"Easy, easy. It's okay. Breathe. Focus on my voice. You're safe." Zack raised a hand to blond spikes.
"What - why am I out here?" Cloud shook.
This was different.
"I think you were sleep walking. Your eyes were open but not seeing. You gave us a bit of a scare."
Cloud glanced around. There were a few other Seconds and Thirds. Not a lot of people but enough for the word to spread.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed before Seph tears the building apart searching for you." Zack wrapped a hand around him and began guiding him.
"Zack, did I say something?" Cloud asked as they made their way.
"You said mother. That's about it. You doing all right? Do you sleep walk often?"
"No? I never sleep walk." Cloud was confused.
"Huh. That's odd. Maybe we should take precautions in case this happens in the future."
They opened the door to Sephiroth pacing and on the phone. When the door opened he turned. Relief flooded his face as he practically raced to their side.
"Nevermind. He's fine." Sephiroth hung up before addressing them. "What happened?"
Cloud only wanted to be held. To feel Sephiroth's arms around him. So he reached out and clung onto him. Sephiroth returned the embrace.
"I think he sleep walked into the lounge. Well, he would have kept going if I hadn't stopped him." Zack explained.
"Does this happen occasionally?" Sephiroth asked the blond.
"No. I've never had that problem." Cloud shook his head.
"Maybe we can alert the others on this floor to keep an eye out at night. Did you lock the door before bed?" Zack inquired.
"Yes. I always lock it." Sephiroth frowned.
"Hm. This is weird then." Zack was at a loss.
The next morning Cloud called Chadley.
"You were sleep walking? Has this ever happened before?"
"No. I've never done this before." Cloud was confused.
"Is there anything that could have caused this?"
"No? I remember I was dreaming. Someone was calling out to me. I felt a pull, so I followed in the dream. Next thing I know Zack is shaking me awake. And then I realized I'm in the lounge." He explained.
"This is intriguing. Unfortunately I can't give you anything for sleep walking. The best is to take precautions. Lock the doors. Maybe find a means to alert you or Sephiroth that you're moving. A bracelet of bells maybe."
"All right. I suppose we can try that." Cloud hated the idea of wearing bells. But he supposed it was worth a try.
The mail came in that moment. Sephiroth received a small package. He took one look inside before handing it over to the blond. He excitedly reached in and pulled out a phone.
Genesis really came through.
Cloud finished up with his call with Chadley to begin fiddling with the new device. Sephiroth watched warily.
"Don't take that outside this apartment." He warned.
"I won't." Cloud promised as he got to work to reconnect.
It took all day to do. It had been a few months and he had to figure out how all over again. That night he was successful. Immediately his birds were suspicious.
Cloud took a picture and posted it to show that it was really him. Most were overjoyed. Others were alarmed with Sephiroth in the background on his laptop.
He assured them that he was a friend. Not fully an ally but he wasn't going to interfere with them. His birds were nervous, but they accepted the open trust Sephiroth seemed to have over Cloud.
Once the excitement settled, someone came forward with information. That someone in the Slums was asking specific questions about Fenrir and his network.
Cloud asked who, wondering if it was a Turk. A moment later a photo was uploaded and he gasped. At the sound Sephiroth peered over his shoulder.
A man with dark hair. He adorned a tattered red cape. A golden claw for his left arm. The rest of his outfit was all black leather. And the cape hid the actual holster, the belts wrapped around a leg was still noticeable.
"What's he doing here? This feels...early? If that makes sense?" Cloud was confused.
"Perhaps Tseng knows people to search for him." Sephiroth narrowed his eyes.
He felt a strong sense that these two shouldn't meet.