Chapter 3: Smells Like Life
Cloud waited for another day before deciding to get his patient awake. He listened briefly at the door before stepping inside. Kadaj was curled up in bed, hands clasped in front of him like a child. (He is barely more than a child.)
The blonde shook his shoulder gently. Kadaj rolled over to face him, eyes wide and startled.
"How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Three." The teen snapped and sat up.
"Ah, good. The medicine worked." Cloud let himself smile at the wounded expression on Kadaj's face.
"I was sleeping."
"Well you're not now. There's a shower in the bathroom behind that door, and I'll make breakfast. Uh...what do you eat?"
"Food." Kadaj cocked an eyebrow.
Cloud rolled his eyes. "What kind of food?"
"Meat, white or red, no fish. Fruit, no vegetables. Grain, eggs, no dairy except for cheese—"
"Okay, I think I get it." Cloud left and muttered under his breathe, "Picky."
Kadaj wasted no time getting into the shower, sighing contentedly as the hot water relaxed the ache in his muscles. He took pleasure in washing his hair, bringing it back from the brink of filthiness too it's usual silk-like quality.
When he was finished with his shower, Kadaj found a new set of clothes laid out for him on the bed. He donned the white button-up shirt and blue jeans, and stepped gingerly into the hallway.
The floor was made of grey and white driftwood. It was icy under Kadaj's bare feet. He took a deep whiff of the cool air and smelled cooking food. Eggs was the most prominent of all, with bacon underneath it, and buried below that...(Cheese.) Kadaj's mouth watered.
Still lower the silver-haired young man caught another smell, a familiar one. He focused on it, brought it up from under the other fragrances. Steel and vanilla.
Kadaj breathed Cloud's scent in deeply, memorizing it. (Steel and vanilla...not entirely unpleasant...hmm...smells like life...kind of sexy...) He shook his head abruptly, to rid it of the unwanted thoughts. (Bad Kadaj, bad, bad, BAD!!)
Still feeling rather jumpy, he followed the enticing smell of cheese down the hallway and stuck his head around the corner of a door frame. "Hello?"
Cloud's back was too him, bent over a frying pan where something yellow sizzled and popped. "Ah, good. I was beginning to think you had drowned. Sit down." He flipped what he was cooking up in the air and caught it again.
Kadaj did so, to enchanted by the sweet smell of melting cheese to do anything else. "What...what's for breakfast?"
"Omelet with bacon and cheese." Cloud slid a plate in front of him and took his own to the other side of the table.
"What kind of cheese?" The younger man picked up his knife and fork, eying the delicacy in front of him hungrily.
"Cheddar, why?"
"I love cheddar." Kadaj dug into the greasy yellow slab and began to wolf it down.
Cloud's fork froze halfway to his mouth as he watched the silver-haired teen eat like a starving cat. "Hey, slow down, you're going to hurt yourself."
Heedless, Kadaj finished the omelet within three minutes. He licked his fingers blissfully, trying to get the last remnants of flavor off his skin.
Cloud's eyes widened as he watched Kadaj's tongue curl over slim fingers and peach lips, his pants suddenly feeling a little too tight. "Uh, Kadaj...?"
"Hnn...?" He looked up, jade eyes brimming with innocence.
"Nothing." The blonde shivered minutely and shook his head.
Perceptive as ever, Kadaj did not miss the tremor in Cloud's voice. Almost smirking with glee, he drew his middle finger slowly into his mouth and drew it out again clean, his eyes glistening with innocence that begged to be tarnished. "Not making you nervous, am I, Cloud?"
The blonde dropped his fork, sweat-drops forming on his forehead and cheeks.
"I've lost my appetite!" he squeaked and dashed out of the room, cheeks pink with embarrassment.
Kadaj threw his head back and laughed, amazed that the older man was so easy to manipulate.
"Didn't think I was that sexy!"
- - - - -
Notes: -sigh- Such a tease.
Heh, this is fun. X)
Until next time,
-Dove