Guess who?! Yup! It's Tragedy and Akaiba here, fulfilling the third part in the seemingly never ending 'Hey There' series.
Akaiba: I never ever thought it would even reach part one! It all started from a vid i made on my youtube account and if it wasn't for a wonderful girl on there demanding i write it, we would never have met Soku or Everent. Another note... guess who is responsible for Everent?
Tragedy: MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Akaiba: Yup, her. They're knida like our son's in a sense...
Sora and Riku: OUR son!
Enjoy!
Spare the rod: spoil the child.
Soku felt his pillow shift slightly. He frowned and pressed his hand against it firmly, grumbling as it shifted again, moving up and down, in and out as if it were breathing…
Startled from his sleep at the fearful thought that his pillow was alive and breathing he tried to pull away from it and was surprised to find two arms wrapped around his waist holding him firmly down. His blue eyes snapping open he stared up into the peaceful face of the dark prince he had been dreaming about, holding him so tightly against his body that Soku couldn't help blushing hotly, especially when he realized the thin material of their under shirts and trousers were all that separated, though desperately dreamed about but never admitted, skin on skin contact.
Why hadn't he gone home that night? Oh yes, the prospect of spending more time with Everent had seemed that much more appealing. So, they'd stripped off their armor and fallen asleep, Soku curled in Everent's arms. It was romantic and yet stupid. Soku remembered what Everent had said the day before about his father disciplining him physically for misbehaving and Soku couldn't think of anything worse than sleeping with the enemy's son and not killing him like he was supposed to. In comparison, Soku had little to fear on his return but he knew it would still be bad. Riku would yell, Sora would be worried out of his mind and hug him to death before yelling too, Leon would give him that disappointed face and they might even confine him. That would mean no Everent, what a cruel fate he faced. The idea finally dawning on him he once again tried to sit up. Frustration clearly wrote all over his face.
Everent groaned in defiance and shifted from where he lay, his back against a tree they'd decided seemed comfortable, "Ugh… such hectic thoughts for this time we decided was ours. Sleep, prince. Wake me when its night and we can go our separate ways then."
"I'm going to assume you were talking about last night, because if you would open your eyes you would clearly see tomorrow has arrived." Soku informed, none to happy about it. He wasn't a morning person.
Everent's eyes snapped open, "What?" He looked around and groaned again, "We're dead…" Soku let out a snort that seemed to say 'you think?' as he went to leave Everent's warm embrace and get dressed in his worn armor but Everent wouldn't let go. "And where are you going?"
"I'm going to get dressed so we can go home and fix this." Soku said calmly, resigning himself to Everent's hold while he spoke. He turned over in the firm grip and straddled the elders thighs, not noticing the awkward position they were in and the effect it was having on the elder.
"Don't I get a good bye kiss?" Everent grinned impishly, leaning towards the boy wrecking havoc on his hormones with out realizing it, and Soku wanted to desperately to acquiesce to the dark prince's request but resisted.
"I don't think so. Morning breath, I'd rather avoid tasting it twofold." Soku said with a cheeky grin and Everent petulantly let the silveret go and pulled on his greaves as Soku fiddled with his own breastplate.
"Note to self: remember toothbrush next time." Everent muttered make Soku laugh. The dark-haired teen looked up as he was putting on his armored boots, "That's a beautiful sound; you should do it more often."
Soku grinned, "To be perfectly honest, I don't like to laugh. It attracts attention to me."
Everent scowled. "Good point, you're mine now and I'll not have anyone else think otherwise." Finishing pulling on his armor Everent got up and wrapped his arms around Soku's waist, "The mark on your neck will have to suffice for now."
"'Mark on my'…" Realization dawned and Soku's eyes widened as he touched the area on his neck Everent had spent a good deal of time sucking the previous night. "Oh, you didn't!" Everent laughed. "Everent! How the hell am I supposed to hide that?!"
"Are you ashamed?" The dark prince feigned hurt and Soku punched his arm.
"Shut up! I know my parents will probably have a fair idea about what I did last night but now they have proof!" Soku whined.
"You should wear it with pride! Plus, we only kissed. It's not like we went all the way." Everent shrugged.
Soku blushed. "Shut up!"
"Not unless you kiss me!"
"Morning breath!"
"Kiss me!"
"No!"
"Kiss me!"
"No!"
Everent began to chase Soku rather childishly around the clearing but it didn't last long. Soku wasn't as used to running in armor as Everent was and fell to the floor when the dark prince leapt on him.
"Got you!"
"Kiss me and I'll bite your tongue!"
"You really don't like morning breath." The ebony haired male observed.
"Yeah." Soku sighed softly, not bothering to elaborate as a painful memory resurfaced in his mind that he decided Everent didn't need to know about.
Everent 'hmed' softly. "I'm guessing there's more to you than meets the eye." He stayed still a moment willing Soku's eyes to meet his but when they didn't he got off the little prince and pulled a surprised Soku to his feet. "Ah well, I'm willing to wait." He leant in close and brushed his lips against Soku's cheek. "See you later, prince."
There was a shimmer of dark energy around Everent that hazed the air before it swallowed him and left Soku all alone, flushed and panting heavily in the clearing as he fought valiantly to calm the raging hormones that ran through him demanding that he somehow get Everent back. Blushing furiously Soku turned away from the clearing, casting a longing look back at the tree they had spent the night sleeping under and had done nothing but indulge in each other's presence and occasional the clash of lips but it was so gentle a memory Soku had to wonder if it had actually happened.
He didn't have far to walk until he could see the war camp through the trees, the rather inconspicuous lightly coloured tents seen clearly from a distance. It wasn't as if they could hide anyway, this was Sephiroth's world and as such he knew everything. Soku froze; what if Sephiroth knew about what had transpired last night? No, he couldn't… it wasn't as though he had eyes everywhere… he couldn't… could he?
Soku dearly hoped not, if he did then Everent might not come back, he'd confessed to Soku that his father was not above beatings to get discipline. He prayed Everent would be safe before taking a deep breath and emerging into the camp.
Cloud heard the cries before anyone even made it to his tent to inform him. Those close to the edge of the camp were going into panic as their services were called into effect as the soldiers began to return, broken hearted and defeated. Cloud burst from his tent and nearly ran headlong into the person he presumed had been sent to get him. He ran past them and straight to the direction of the voices and commotion. The army of light had been gone far longer than any of them had expected but there wasn't really a time limit on wars, even so those at the camp had been stressing.
A doctor pledges to help and heal everyone, he shouldn't be looking for one person in particular… but he was. Cloud was passing soldiers that didn't look too mortally wounded, just a little beaten, but as he went he became more frantic. He couldn't see Leon anywhere. He bit his tongue to keep from calling out. He could look and deny accusations but calling out was undeniably proof he was letting himself get involved with his patients in more than a little way. He blushed, that had come out far more insinuating than he had meant it. There was nothing between Leon and him, right?
Then why was his heart racing in an attempt to break free from his chest at the lack of the man's presence. Cloud knew he had to stop this, he was getting too involved, friends he could handle; he had one or two of them. Anything more and he knew he risked putting them both in danger, he knew he was supposed to be hiding but Leon made him feel safe and the more he thought about the prospect of the thing he had spent five years hiding from finding him the more he wanted to see Leon.
"Cloud?"
The spiky blond span around, his doctors coat swirling around him as he did so, its front unbuttoned and he stood shamelessly in what could be called sleeping clothes as he faced Leon as the brunet came into the camp.
"Leon!" Cloud's face broke into a relieved smile. "You're okay!"
Leon approached the almost fitful blond and raised his eyebrow at the less than expected outburst, "Yeah, I'm okay…" He watched Cloud for a moment as the blonds' hand raised to cover his mouth in a sheepish display of embarrassment. "Are you okay, Cloud?"
Cloud's blush deepened. "Y-yeah… I-I just worried is all… I let the crackpot wizard fix you up like a toy soldier and send you off as if you meant nothing, I worried you'd die and it'd be my fault for not asserting my authority as a doctor." Cloud found it hard to lie to Leon's icy gaze, as unforgiving as it was though he'd rather take that then let Leon know the truth. On the bright side he was feeling better and it was then he noticed the slight haunted expression in Leon's eyes. "What's wrong?"
Leon looked at him a moment then made to leave, brushing past Cloud as he went until Cloud caught his wrist tightly. The soldiers passing them paid them no attention as they were more preoccupied with either getting a sleep, a wash or getting to the infirmary tent.
"Don't ignore me, Leon." Cloud whispered softly.
"I feel no need to answer to you." Leon snapped back with such fervor Cloud jerked away as if he had been slapped, his grip loosening and watching as Leon left him without so much as a glance back.
Cloud was still staring when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see a familiar pale face with utterly black hair and crimson eyes watching him in concern. "Ah! Vincent, you're okay!" He pushed away the hurt he felt and welcomed his friend back with a brief hug before Vincent pulled away and looked straight into his blue eyes. The gaze was stretching on and with him held by his shoulders Cloud knew he would have to answer to those eyes or he'd not be able to go and help the men who needed to be fixed up. He shifted awkwardly and looked down. "I'm fine."
Vincent didn't let his grip lessen and his lips parted as he spoke, "You're lying." He stated it simply, his gruff voice quietly spoken. It was rare to ever hear the stoic older man speak but they'd been friends long enough for the few words Vincent spoke to not surprise Cloud anymore.
The blond snorted a bitter laugh, "I guess I am…" He gently pulled out of Vincent's hold and gave him a forced smile which was returned with a look that clearly said he needn't have bothered as a forced smile was nothing to a real one. "I'm sorry, are you hurt?" Vincent shook his head and simply stared at him. Sighing Cloud resigned himself to Vincent's protective company, he was like an older brother to Cloud and equally as protective. "I've got to go and see to the men in the infirmary tents but you can wait in my office if you want, or get cleaned up. I'll be done as soon as I can."
Vincent didn't move but Cloud was the one who left towards the large tents marked with large red crosses.
Soku wasn't noticed for a few moments as the men who passed him were busy with other things but he soon passed soldiers who recognized him and the murmurs spread into calls and shouts until he was surrounded by stares as he passed. He saw a brunet with eyes a mirror of his burst suddenly into his path and leap upon him like a fox on a rabbit. Soku cried out in surprise as Sora wrapped his arms cripplingly around his son and threatened to snap the small teen's spine as Riku came racing after his unstoppable husband.
"Soku! You've been gone all night! Are you hurt?! You're okay! I'm going to kill you! How dare you just vanish like that?! After the battle ended we searched all night! I couldn't find you! Did that mean prince do anything?! Is he dead?! Are you dead?! Are you a ghost?! My poor ghost son! Riku!" Sora was babbling like an idiot, puncturing his sentences by wailing odd words and Riku simply pulled him off Soku before giving his son a relieved look.
"We'll discuss what transpired later but for now I think Soku needs a shower and a change of clothes." Riku wrapped an arm around Soku's shoulders and laced a hand with his husband and led them back to where their tents lay.
When they reached the tent Leon came running up to them and stared at Soku in openmouthed shock before sweeping him up into a bear hug, "You little brat! You dare do anything like that again and I'll kill you!"
Soku wriggled free from the hold and glared at his parents and Leon, "I've had my fill of death threats thank you! I'm glad you're happy to see me and I'm glad you're all alive but can this wait, I need a bath." Soku paused as he passed Leon. "And you need to do something about that cut."
Sora, Riku and Leon both looked to Leon's arm as Soku disappeared into his tent, the was a large slice through the material and skin, you could see it was quite deep and there was a lot of blood but Leon hadn't felt it until Soku had pointed it out. Sora frowned and kissed Riku's cheek in a goodbye before leading the surprised soldier over to the medical tents.
Cloud entered the infirmary tent and began inquiring about the patients. Most had been dealt with as the fighting done had been done to kill and they'd been gone for over 24 hours, the heavily injured had died from blood loss and the only really had to stitch up mildly deep wounds and bandage those with cuts. Cloud wondered if he was really needed here when Merlin appeared and waved him over.
Grudgingly approaching the crackpot wizard Cloud asked what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong, a gentlemen just came in with a particularly nasty cut but he refused my help to heal it magically." Cloud suppressed a snort at the perplexed old man's words, someone who feared magic enough to snub Merlin? Power to him, Cloud thought. "I don't understand why, he's seen how useful it is before." Wait, what? "Anyway, he asked specifically for you to tend to him."
Merlin stood aside and the flimsy curtain that hung around the bed was parted as Cloud entered and didn't notice as it swung shut, his eyes instantly locking onto icy blue ones.
"Ah! I know you!"
Cloud jumped and became aware of another person sat by the bed Leon was sat on. It was Sora, the King of Light's husband. He bowed his head slightly as he overcame his fluster. "And I you, your highness."
Sora giggled and blushed, "Don't do that, I'm just Sora!" He looked from Cloud to Leon and rose suddenly, "I can see Leon will be well taken care of, I'm no longer needed. See ya Leon! It was nice to meet you Cloud." Cloud was startled as he found his hand being shaken violently as the bouncy brunet practically skipped past him, through the curtain and presumably out of the large tent that better suited the term pavilion.
Cloud stared after him when Leon spoke, "Sorry about him, he's rather hyper." As soon as Leon spoke he stiffened and slowly forced himself to turn around, willing all emotion from has face but he knew it hadn't worked when he saw Leon's eyes crease in a wince at seeing his face. He couldn't help he naturally wore his emotions for all to see, but currently he wished it otherwise.
As Leon opened his mouth to speak Cloud darted to the trolley of supplies Merlin had presumably wheeled in after being told no magic and then abandoned after being told Leon wanted Cloud. The movement quelled the words in Leon's throat and Cloud was grateful for that, he rummaged for a needle and thread without even looking at the wound. Finding what he needed he placed them on the metal top of the trolley and opened the top drawer in which lay anesthetic filled needles snugly wrapped in sterile packaging. He produced one and then turned back to Leon. Purposefully not looking at Leon's face he gently lifted the wounded arm and examined it.
He had been correct in his assumption, Leon would need stitches. When his hand went to reach for the needle still wrapped so neatly Leon caught his wrist and restrained it from its target.
"What are you-"
"Don't give me that." Leon said simply, his eyes searching for the blue ones that refused to meet his. "I don't want to not feel this."
"Are you crazy? It's going to hurt." Cloud snapped curtly towards the bedding though it was meant for Leon.
"I hurt you."
"What?"
"What I said… I didn't mean it. I was angry; I didn't mean what I said. Soku had gone missing, kidnapped by…" Leon heaved a breath, "Either way it doesn't justify why I snapped at you. I need you to know I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Leon-"
"Please look at me… I really am sorry." Leon was begging and they both knew it.
Cloud couldn't raise his head, the emotions that raged through him were making it hurt to breathe as he listened to Leon's apology. "I accept you're apology." It was what he wanted to say but he still wouldn't look up, if he did he'd do something stupid… he might end up kissing Leon and that was something he wouldn't risk, ever. Not when he knew just how much their lives depended on it.
"Why won't you look at me?" Leon asked, the raw emotion in his voice made Cloud's breath catch and he dearly wanted to look up but he squeezed his eyes shut and wouldn't do it. Instead he focused on the bloodied arm near him.
"Are you sure you still don't want an anesthetic?" Cloud murmured.
"Yes, but please look-"
Cloud didn't listen as he picked up the threaded needle and sat beside Leon on the bed, his knees were shaking from their conversation and he didn't trust his knees to support him or his hand to not shake without a steady seat.
"This is going to hurt."
"I want it to hurt."
Cloud's hand froze, his eyes still not looking up as the needle paused in its path. "What?"
"I hurt you; I want you to hurt me back. It's only fair." Leon stated simply.
"That's… stupid! I am not going to hurt you!" Cloud reached for the needle again but Leon caught his hand again. "Leon! That's a ridiculous and childish reason for going without anesthetic!"
"I don't care!" Leon cried back. "Do it without that damn needle or I'll let it be!'
"Don't be stupid!"
"Look at me!"
Cloud bit his tongue and lifted the needle again. He was grateful the tent outside the curtain was a buzz with activity and noise otherwise those inside the tent may have heard their argument.
"This is-"
"Going to hurt, I know." Leon said softly, all fight gone from him as his uninjured arm fisted the sheet.
Cloud bit his lip but there was no going back. Doctors weren't supposed to inflict pain, he should go against Leon's wishes but he didn't want to. He didn't want Leon to yell at him and as much as it was going to hurt him, Leon wanted this. He guessed, deep down on a minute level, he did want to hurt Leon in return for what he'd said. But that was childish; after all they were just words.
Words that had cut him to the bone…
The blond pressed the needle against the skin and winced in sympathy as the tip broke the skin, a small bead of blood pooling around it as he forced it through all the way, the string of surgeon's thread trailing after it like a snake. He heard Leon inhale sharply at the pain. Cloud punctured the other side of the gash as the needle came up through the skin, red stained thread following. Cloud's fingertips were stained red and he hated himself as he tugged the needle to close the loop he had made and heard Leon gasp, the hand in the sheets creating a tearing noise that reached his ears.
"Leon-"
"Keep… going." Leon hissed through the pain. If he hadn't felt the injury before he felt every inch of it and more now.
Biting his tongue Cloud did as was asked, the needle becoming faster as the blond sought to end the torture sooner, each motion he made he felt as if he were doing it to himself and he wanted it to end. He felt the hand not holding the needle, the one pressed onto Leon's arm to steady as he sewed, be gripped by Leon's free hand that had given up on the now torn sheets and sort comfort in Cloud's hand.
He was nearly done; Cloud squeezed the hand in his tightly and felt it returned with ease as the pain was put into an action, dissipating some of it by diverting Leon's attention.
"This is stupid." Cloud hissed as he came close to the end of the wound.
Leon didn't reply. He couldn't. The pain was too much. Instead his grip tightened around the soft fingers he clung to and gritted his teeth in agony. Cloud's eyes narrowed in his precision as he formed the last loop and tugged the thread sharply and winced as he heard Leon cry out softly as the skin was jarred and sealed. Cloud tied it and cut it, freeing Leon from his hold as the older male retracted his battered limb and cradled it in pain.
"I-I'm sorry!" Cloud was so close to tears, what he'd done… a doctor should never do that! Doctors were meant to heal! To help! He wasn't supposed to make it worse!
Sensing the blonds' feelings on the matter Leon heaved a breath and spoke through the pain, "Don't be… I asked… you to do it…" He grunted.
Cloud frowned, still refusing to look up. "Okay, you've proven you're point. Now take the anesthetic to stop the pain, it will at least allow you to sleep soundly now." He went to get the needle but as before Leon caught his wrist and didn't let him. "Leon! Don't be so stubborn!"
"But it wouldn't be fair."
"You're so childish! They were just words!" Cloud snapped and glared upwards, not realizing until it was too late that he had let his eyes meet Leon's.
Leon seemed to smile at this tiny accomplishment, admiring his victory as something tremendous. He leant towards Cloud, his grip loosening on Cloud's hand enough for him to lace his fingers with the blonds'. A blush erupted beneath dark blue eyes but the eyes half-closed in lustful anticipation as he felt Leon's breath on his lips.
"You are such a child…" Cloud whispered.
"I know." Leon replied before he caught the soft lips parted so slightly before him and pressed his mouth against the blonds'. He coerced Cloud into movement and it was without even asking the submissive mouth opened and Leon was granted entrance, his tongue running over Cloud's bottom lip, tracing the bow shape and then dipping inside to run teasingly over the still muscle hiding, tempting it to play.
Cloud didn't need anymore incentive as he practically leapt into action pressing his whole body forwards as his tongue slipped out and began a gentle battle with Leon that was filled with everything, every emotion they felt. It was tender and loving as each movement was purposefully made, made to please, to pleasure, to tease and to love.
The blond felt Leon pulling him onto his lap and didn't resist as the hands cupped his backside and he in fact made it easier for Leon by clambering onto the lap that suddenly moved and Cloud was flung onto his back with Leon towering over him, hands resting either side of the spiky hair. He didn't even get to catch his breath before Leon dove down and kissed a slow pattern down the soft skin of Cloud's neck and began to nip and suck at the crook of the pale flesh. The smaller man whimpered and moaned at the sensation, threading his hand into the brown hair tickling his chin as the other wrapped around Leon's neck.
"L-Leon!" Cloud cried, arching his back and grinding himself wantonly on the knee pressing against his groin, courtesy of Leon.
Leon stopped and smirked at the moan that he caused. He pressed his forehead against Cloud's. "I am really sorry, you know that, right?"
Cloud panted for air and shrugged off what had happened, "It's nothing. They were just words."
Leon shook his head. "No, they weren't. If that were true then 'I love you' would just be another three words that didn't mean a thing. But they are important, right?"
Cloud stared at Leon in slack-jawed surprise at the mention of 'I love you'. His face burned at the humiliation those words entailed and he looked away, "You don't mean that." He said softly but with such venomous bitterness Leon started.
"Oh? And what if I did?"
"I'd question you're sanity. We've only gotten to know each other in the past few days." Cloud pointed out. His hands resting on Leon's upper arms that were supporting most of the older male's weight as he was still leant over the blond.
"Ah, you'd like to think that." Leon gave a filthy leer and pressed his forehead back against Cloud's. "I have a confession: I've had my eye on you for a little longer than that, I'm sorry to say I'm not so impulsive as to just jump on someone after two days." He kissed Cloud chastely and was surprised as the blond arched up and stole another as he was about to move his lips away.
Cloud grinned up at him. "I did always admire you're fighting skills… the way you're muscles rippled under your tight shirt as you moved, each motion making you're body move like water as you went, you're frame dripping with sweat as you froze, watching like a hawk and attacking like a viper until all around you were nothing and you stood as if it were nothing to you what you did."
Leon groaned, "Stop it; you're giving me a bit of a 'problem'…"
"Imagining yourself work out is arousing you?" Cloud wonder if Leon was narcissistic.
"No, imagining you get hard because of me working it is arousing me." Leon stuck his tongue out impishly and then ran it over Cloud's lips as an afterthought which made the blond groan.
Cloud opened his mouth and was rewarded with the wet muscle dipping into his cavern and tasting every inch in a more bruising kiss that quickly became all teeth and tongue as they fought animatedly, clicks of their teeth puncturing the air with wet smacks as their lips connected and parted violently.
The blond was the first to break away, his head arching painfully upwards and exposing his pale neck to Leon as he gasped for air. Leon seemed unaffected as he trailed his tongue down and over the bobbing Adam's apple and sucked at the base of the offered neck, quickly nipping and making the blood rise in what Leon was sure would make another hickey. Cloud was writhing beneath his mouth, moans interrupting a sentence he was desperately trying to say but Leon decided words were overrated in their current position.
"Shush, or I'll make you…" The threat was playful and Cloud really wanted to find out what it entailed but he had other things that screamed were more important than play sucky-face with his newfound lover.
"You… need… to rest… you're arm… and… get ready… for… tomorrow…" Cloud heaved heavy breaths that Leon was proud to claim were all his fault.
Leon growled, "I want to stay with you." He placed the hand of his good arm on Cloud's chest and kissed the blonds' nose cutely while cleverly balancing most of his weight on his legs that sat either side of Cloud's thighs.
Cloud was so close to crumbling and letting the brunet have his way but he still had some resolve. "I'm the doctor and I say you need to rest. It won't get better otherwise." He pushed Leon to sit up gently but the older man refused to get off just yet.
Grinning, Leon said. "I'll do as you ask, oh mighty doctor, if you let me sleep in your tent with you."
The blond started, "We only just kissed and you want sex?!"
Leon stared at him as if he'd grown a not only a second but a third head too, obviously the thought hadn't crossed his mind. "No, no sex. I just don't want to leave you yet. I'm happy right now and if I leave… I've a wayward child to deal with."
Cloud guessed he was referring to Soku, the prince of light Leon sort of acted grandfather to. He looked at the pleading face and sighed exaggeratingly. "Okay, you'll have to go over there by yourself though. I've got to go and meet Vincent as there's no work here to do, I'll be along in a few moments."
Jealously briefly flared in Leon's face before quelling as he recalled Vincent was Cloud's friend, one of the few the blond had and he was in no position to argue as he'd just gotten his way. He nodded and exited to the tent hurriedly leaving a fondly amused Cloud looking after him. Turning away he made his way the area of the tent that was divided into small offices, really small areas that had bits of canvas marking them apart that had desks and other things in them. They were for the surgeons; Cloud walked into his and was unsurprised to see Vincent sat lazily in a chair. He was leant all the way back in it and his eyes were immediately focused on Cloud as the blond entered; the hand garbed in a gold claw stopped toying with the strand of black hair it held.
"You look well." Vincent observed softly.
Cloud nodded, "Leon just kissed me." Then realization dawned. "Oh my god, he kissed me!" He clasped a hand to his mouth and nearly fell when Vincent leapt from his seat and caught the blond who was crying unabashedly. Vincent maneuvered him into the chair he had vacated and knelt before his life-long friend.
"Cloud?" The dark-haired man asked softly.
"H-he kissed me… and I l-let him! I let him!" His blue eyes shot to Vincent's red ones, "I've put him in so much danger, Vincent!" His grip on his mouth that muffled his words tightened. "He's going die because of me!"
Vincent put his arms around the blond as he cried; holding him tightly without saying a word as they both knew there was no way to disagree with the truth in Cloud's words. He held him until Cloud fell unconscious from his fear and tears and he carried Cloud out of the office bridal style and told Merlin off for over-working the blond which served as an effective cover and spread like fire, after all… it had been Vincent who'd spoken. He took Cloud to his tent and wasn't surprised to see Leon inside gently cleaning the blood from his stitches. He offered no explanation to the brunet only said Cloud was more complex than he yet knew and left them.
Everent shimmered to the door outside the throne room of the castle of darkness. He hated the place, the décor consisted of black and an indigo darker than any other he'd seen. Carefully arranging himself in a way he hoped didn't look as though he spent the night with the enemy's son and loved every moment. Gathering his courage and replacing his mask he entered the room, the ominous clanking and creaking of the double doors his clarion announcers.
He saw Sephiroth, sprawled out lazily across his throne, perk at his entrance and leer down at him. "Ah! The prodigal son does return to us!" The men gathered in the hall let out barking laughs at the joke but it wasn't funny, not in Everent's opinion.
The dark-haired teen approached the throne upon its dais and stood before it regally and regarded his father with an apathetic expression.
"A father, son reunion… this should be private." Sephiroth rose from his seat and gestured for Everent to follow him.
He did, trailing after the towering silveret and well in the shadow cast by his father's larger body from the flickering torches lining the walls. This truly was an ancient castle; his father hadn't even bothered to install electricity! But he knew from experience that the torches on the wall wouldn't extinguish with a breeze either. They were kept alive by Sephiroth's power.
Knowing their destination he felt their journey's end nearing and the familiar knot of fear curled up tightly in his belly and made him want to heave. But he didn't, he followed silently like a good little boy as his father pulled the torch on the wall that reveled the staircase that descended to the dungeons of the castle. The dungeons were so huge and Everent had only ever been privy to seeing the part of it that only ever concerned him. He shivered but was thankfully cloaked in the darkness around them as they went down he doubted Sephiroth saw it.
The torches began again and he could see them nearing that door, the one that looked exactly like the others but was so much more. This one held behind it so much pain the Everent dearly hoped he wouldn't die this time. Clinging to the façade that was his mask he never faltered in his steps as he followed his father through the door, two thoughts in him vying for different things. The part of him that kept him alive and was the panicle of cold-hearted indifference and could feel no pain told him it'd all be over and be a memory in no time while the another part of him was screaming for him to run, join Soku, run away with the silveret and hide from Sephiroth forever.
As he watched the door slide shut, his back to Sephiroth as his viridian eyes widened in fear, yet another thought stepped up and it pointed out he couldn't run, not if it was for Soku. He was no good for Soku if all he could do was run, he needed to protect Soku, protect him from everything and that included Sephiroth. Gritting his teeth he slowly turned to face his devil in his own personal hell, he could handle this.
Stood back into the pitch black shadows of the room set aside for his 'disciplining' he saw aqua eyes stare at him, glinting from the torch light aside the door Everent relished in staying near, they watched him with a predator's gaze. "Just what have you been doing, boy?" Sephiroth hissed.
Everent didn't reply as he heard an echoing laugh he recognized. Looking back into the darkness he saw three pairs of eyes that mirrored Sephiroth's reveal themselves. Everent's eyes widened as he felt ice freeze over his gut, he wasn't quite so sure he would survive this anymore. He took a half-step back and he was already against the door, the four men noticed his attempted escape and three of the laughed at his plight while Sephiroth advanced from the darkness, cane in hand.
"What do we do with naughty boys?" Sephiroth asked the three men lining beside him, shorter than he was but eerily identical but for a few features that were environmentally influenced.
"We punish them." The one with short silver hair cropped to his shoulders replied without hesitation.
"We make them sorry." The more muscular one added, one hand brushing his left sideburn in a terrifying leer.
"We teach them." The more refined one with long silver hair more like Sephiroth's finished.
This dark chant Everent had only heard it a few times before. Each time he'd been unable to move for days, weeks depending on his age. Each time he'd hoped, begged for death, any sort of release from his life as he wasn't so without pride to commit suicide. But Sephiroth would always bring him to the edge of his sweet escape and haul him back; refusing to let him die and nursing him back to health so fervently the first time Everent had believed his father had been sorry for what he had done. He'd even been prepared to forgive the older man his deed… then Everent hadn't conformed to Sephiroth's wishes again… and the punishment occurred again. It all happened the same from then on, only Everent refused to forgive him anymore. He didn't have the heart… he didn't have a heart according to Sephiroth so he couldn't anyway but Everent refused to even let his mind think Sephiroth was forgiven.
Sephiroth would never be forgiven.
Lost in his pep-talk of an internal monologue that served to try and bolster his determination to survive this for Soku he was caught unawares as the cane struck him across the back of his head, hard. He fell forwards onto his hands and knees with a hiss of pain and nearly smacked his head off the floor. The last thing he heard before the pain increased so much he knew that they were all wielding canes was a collective mantra of:
"Spare the rod: spoil the child!"
I acctually quite like Sephiroth but he's just too good at being bad to let him be nice. XD On a different and personal note (not really) what do you lot think of my next story being suprisngly not Yaoi? If there is literally no want or interest in it I won't post it. I mean i will... but i'll leave it as a oneshot rather than a story. The pairing would be ShelkeXVincent (Shelke's from Dirge of Cerberus) and it wouldn't be very graphic (i can't write hetero sex) mainly just fluffiness. Please, tell me your thoughts. XD I NEED TO KNOW!!!
Akaiba and Tragedy xxx
(I was listening to Oomph all the way through writing this, they're a german band i was mildly surprised to find were quite good.)
