Faint moans sounded from the bed in the corner.
"Cloud?" Sephiroth looked over to the body covered in the sheets of the bed. Cloud had been unconscious for a week now. He looked up to the ceiling as light rain started to sprinkle upon the rooftop. Sephiroth sat there by Cloud's side just as he had been doing since he brought the young man into his home. His heart ached heavily at the pain Cloud had been feeling. Pain Sephiroth himself had inflicted vicariously through Kadaj. He felt that it was all his fault, so how could his love ever forgive him?
"Seph..." A weak voice struggling with that one consonant reached Sephiroth's ears. "Seph..." Cloud said again, no stronger the second time.
"Cloud!" Sephiroth leaped a few feet from his chair to the direct side of Cloud's bed and took his slightly cold hand into the bigger and warmer hand of his own. "Cloud, I never thought you would wake up," as he puts Cloud's hand to his cheek.
"Heh...I survived...the life stream. And being...insane. I think..." As he felt warm tears pour onto the back of his hand, "that I could...survive this..." Cloud looked at Sephiroth and smiled weakly. He didn't blame Sephiroth for anything. He couldn't. He loved him too much, which made it so easy to forgive. Too easy, maybe. But still...just waking up to that face melted away his pain.
"Do you want anything to eat? I assume you must be rather hungry." Sephiroth didn't let go of his hand still.
"Cook me...something amazing." Cloud smiled yet again.
With that, Sephiroth stood up tenderly and walked over to the kitchen. While the smells of spices and fresh food tantalized Cloud, he looked up at the ceiling. It was just plain wood, he noticed, and he wondered why Sephiroth didn't live in a house more grandiose. With such a powerful name to live up to, wouldn't he have an equally powerful house? Lost in his thoughts until Sephiroth came with his food, he tried sitting up a little.
"I made you soup..." Sephiroth brought to him this blend of green onions, potatoes, and chicken. "I tried to make it amazing enough for you." With just a sip, Cloud melted away.
"It's more than amazing, Sephiroth..." His voice returning to him.
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Within a few days, Cloud was feeling better already. Sephiroth had started sleeping with him, too, because of the lack of two beds. But it hadn't mattered to either of them. A few nights later, they were spooning in the bed with Sephiroth as the big spoon with one arm rested at Clouds stomach and the other draped across his own. Enjoying the warmth and closeness of Sephiroth's body against his back and his hot breath caressing the back of his neck, Cloud lay there, smiling lightly. The breathing of his companion changed in pace. Deep and fast one moment, slow and light the neck. He knew Sephiroth was asleep, for these were the sounds he made when he drifted off in slumber. Cloud just felt so happy like this and wished moments like these would never end.
He shifted slightly.
"Hey, you okay?" Sephiroth quietly asked.
"Yeah." Cloud answered even softer. "I thought you were asleep?"
"Woke up."
Cloud noticed that the breathing on his neck was steady now. He turned around to face Sephiroth and placed his hand tenderly on his back, with his other hand curled to his own chest. He looked into the deep Mako green eyes that have seen so much pain, so much suffering. With the dull light that was spread everywhere, Cloud couldn't see much, but he could still see Sephiroth's beautiful eyes. His heart leapt just looking at them. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on the chest in front of him, slowly moving up and down with every breath his companion took. A few long, silver hairs mingled with his own blond ones when Sephiroth tilted his head so it leaned on Cloud's. Cloud felt so safe here. So wanted. So warm. So happy. Happier than he had ever been.
"I'm sorry, Cloud." Sephiroth's deep voice sounded, "And I'm sorry. Sorry for every horrible thing I have done to you. You have deserved so much better, all along, and I was such a blind fool to believe I could not give it to you." His eyes were still open and looking just past the top pf Cloud's head. He looked down into clear blue eyes just opening. "I've fallen for you. I've fallen too in love with you."
Cloud didn't want to ruin this lovely moment with the mentioning of Sephiroth's dream for Cloud, so he just said, "Sephiroth...You don't know how much those words mean to me. But just know, that I feel the same way as you." He pressed himself closer to the strong body so close to him, yet so far away. He wanted to be closer. Closer than the physical world could ever bring him to the one he loved so dearly.
Still looking into the green eyes in front of him, he leaned closer to his face. As Cloud's eyes started closing, so did Sephiroth's, and both their eyes were closed at the perfect moment when their lips touched lightly. The light and tender touch of their lips slowly became deeper, as they parted their lips slightly at the same time. Everything was timed perfectly in this moment, as Sephiroth's hand brushed Cloud's cheek and lightly landed on the side of his head, drawing him closer. His hand traveled slowly down his neck, making its way to Cloud's side. It lingered there, caressing the skin it touched. Cloud responded by massaging Sephiroth's jacket free and muscular back with the one hand he had placed there. Sephiroth opened his mouth a bit more and slipped his tongue across Cloud's soft tongue. Cloud gave a soft exhale of pleasure loud to encourage Sephiroth that what he was doing was good.
Sephiroth's hand started moving slowly again, this time towards the top of Cloud's pants. A few fingers started making their way into his pants, as Sephiroth started taking in deeper breaths and exhaling faster. Soon, Sephiroth's whole hand was submerged beneath Cloud's pants and the kissing was as passionate as ever. A hot blush burned itself into Cloud's skin along with a pleasurable sensation he had never felt before. They pressed themselves against each others' bodies when their companion made an extremely pleasurable move with their hands. Sephiroth's fingers caressed the skin around Cloud's personal region lightly. It was hard to get a good touch when they were both so close together like this, but Sephiroth didn't stop. He would not fail to make Cloud happy. Not even knowing what he was feeling for, he let his fingers touch Cloud across his skin. He let them do their work instinctively. He could feel Cloud's lips. His tongue. His body. Melting with him. As the night went on, the pleasure escaladed. Sephiroth knew his rightful place was beside Cloud, and Cloud knew that they would never part, even in death.
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When Cloud woke up, his head was upon Sephiroth's shoulder and his hand was not too far away, resting on the rising and falling chest in front of him. He looked up. A sleeping face greeted him, with Sephiroth's mouth slightly open. As he lay there, he recalled the events of last night. The touch of Sephiroth's fingers across his most sensitive area. The feeling of Sephiroth's lips against his own. The feeling of their bodies pressed together. He really wished moments like those never ended. Cloud drifted back into sleep again, enjoying the comfort and warmth of the one he truly loved.
Authors note: Sorry this fourth chapter took such a long time to post! I took a break from writing, and I went to find some adventures in love that will probably be over for a while now, and to play some more of the FF7 game. Now I feel I can give you readers a better aspect of Sephiroth and Cloud's lives and love and hopefully this chapter was worth the wait. I also took a break because it seemed that whatever chapter fours I tried writing just sucked immensely and I couldn't give you something that sucked. So again. I really hope you enjoyed this.
-Bri