Poison

Chapter 1: Vaccination

Wind screamed across the roof-tops of Edge. Cloud Strife crouched on one of the said roofs, huge sword clutched easily in his right hand, sapphire eyes trained on the figure high above, the gale making the golden-yellow spikes of his unruly hair dance.

And it was the wind that finished it in the end, ripping the black feathers from the tall man's single wing, dissolving his body and whisking all trace of him away. The teenager who dropped limply to the cold metal looked a lot like the former general, might even have been mistaken for Sephiroth at a distance, but Cloud knew him well enough to notice the differences.

First of all, Kadaj was shorter by at least a foot, and young. He couldn't have been more than eighteen, and his face had soft features yet unlined by strong emotions. The silver hair was still present, but it only reached his high collar whereas Sephiroth's had brushed his ankles. The icy jade eyes were also the same, but as Kadaj glared up at Cloud, he could see that the swirling madness of the monster that had possessed him was gone, only to be replaced by pain and anger.

It was the intensity of the pain that made Cloud pause, watching uneasily as the boy got shakily to his feet, not once breaking the invisible contact between jade and sapphire. With a weak growl Kadaj launched himself at the blonde, double-bladed sword swinging haphazardly, at least two feet off from its target. He tripped over his own feet and dropped the weapon.

Cloud threw his own sword aside and caught the silver-haired boy, who coughed feebly and closed his eyes. Any other time Cloud would have dropped the wasted body in disgust and killed him on the spot. But that wouldn't help here, because Kadaj would be dead soon anyway. Having his body taken over by Sephiroth had sucked away all of his life-force, leaving the once-strong muscles unsubstantial.

Even after everything he had done, even Kadaj deserved to have somebody stay with him when he died. Cloud cradled the silver head in the crook of his arm carefully and knelt down, making himself comfortable, though he probably wouldn't be here long.

Kadaj whimpered and turned his face toward his enemy, resting his forehead tiredly against Cloud's ribs. The blonde stiffened at the unfamiliar touch, but he could feel the young man's heartbeat slowing. It would be over soon.

The silver lashes parted as the boy tilted his head up to the heavens.

"I can hear her..." Kadaj whispered, "...Mother." Then the cool green light was gone as he shut his eyes again and leaned back against Cloud.

He coughed again and managed to choke out, "I'm s-so sick..."

(No.) Cloud thought suddenly, wild-eyed as he monitored the ever-slowing beat of Kadaj's heart. (This...this isn't right. Too many have already died at Sephiroth's hands.)

He eased one hand out from underneath the boy and laid it on the soft black leather over his heart, pale fingers spread like a starfish.

The jade eyes flashed open immediately "What're you—"

"Shut up." Cloud had never been much good with spells, being more of the type to rely on brute strength, and he hoped this would work, hoped to every god he knew that he might be able to save the life of one of his most antagonizing foes. He reached out for the Lifestream with a tendril of magic, and was beginning to tether himself too it when his concentration was broken.

"No!" Kadaj shrieked and squirmed in the Cloud's grasp. "No! I want to die!"

"Stop moving, dammit!" Cloud roared, and stretched out for the energy of the Lifestream again, only to have his focus shattered yet again by Kadaj's fingernails digging painfully against his bare arm and shoulder while he wailed, "Leave me alone! Let me die, Strife!"

"Fk!" Cloud wrapped his arms around the dying boy's torso and hugged him roughly to his chest, effectively pinning his arms to his sides. Kadaj screamed into the thick black fabric of his unwanted guardian's sweater, hating that the older man was suppressing his last wish.

This time Cloud managed to sustain a tie with the Lifestream. He snarled bitterly into the silver hair and forced the white-hot healing energy into the dying body.

Kadaj's screams fell silent as he went rigid, and then relaxed as he passed out. Cloud loosened his grip on the young man slightly (his arms were being to cramp up from holding onto him so tight) and continued to feed him the magic.

The Lifestream cut Cloud off a few seconds later, and he surged back to reality gasping for breath and covered in a cold sweat. When his heart had stopped pounding he shifted his gaze down to the silver-haired teenager. Cloud pressed his head against the thin chest. He felt it was a rather callous thing to do, but it gave him his answer quickly. Kadaj's newly strengthened heartbeat pulsed forcefully in his ear.

Cloud paused to breathe a silent sigh of relief. (Thank the gods...)

There was a huge explosion not too far away. He dropped to the roof, curling protectively around Kadaj. Seconds later fiery shrapnel screamed overhead. That would be Reno "taking care" of Kadaj's two brothers, Yazoo and Loz.

When the burning rain of metal had ended Cloud looked up with one eye, then stood up when he saw the coast was clear, and slung the unconscious teenager over his shoulder. (He's light.) Cloud thought as he picked up both his and Kadaj's swords. (What Rufus said about them having hollow bones must be true.)

There was no way he could take the boy back to the rest of Avalanche. They wouldn't understand, would probably try to kill him if they saw him. What Cloud needed to do was get away for awhile, go somewhere safe where he could take care of Kadaj until things quieted down.

He had his PHS, so he would be able to contact his friends. He wouldn't be missed. Cloud shifted the boy on his shoulder and began to climb down the building.

- - - - -

Notes: Eh... not much to say.

Kinda twisted the plot a little to fit my needs.

Hope you enjoy!

-Dove