Chapter 3

Author's note: I don't think Cloud will always be shy around Sephiroth in his condition, sense he's constantly in pain and what not. So I know he seems a little to bold but it is intentional. I know for sure that when I'm in pain I'm a pissy bitch. And Sephiroth is actually normal and less stoic in here so don't act surprised when you read this.

"Do you want to see him?" I was suspended in air, my body weightless. See who? "Sephiroth?" A light giggle that was like church bells to my ears, soothing my mind. A warm hand touched my forehead, my eyes only opening on instinct though they were blinded by the brightest light. I closed them again, a warm feeling radiating in my stomach. "Do you remember now, Cloud?" The most soft though cheery voice whispered, the hand leaving my skin. Then I was falling.

I awoke from the sound of the door opening, my heart beating loudly in my chest as I breathed rapidly through my nose, my eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Memories rushed in fast but settled softly, the twisting feeling in my stomach slowly fading away. I was in Sephiroth's apartment. I was alright.

"You awake?" I wanted to say no, my anger from earlier having not fully dissipated yet. I turned my head to him, shrugging my shoulder before wincing, my body still extremely sore. I don't know how long I slept or what day it was, but sense the lights outside the room were more of a yellow than white I guessed it was night, the thought getting me to think how long I slept. "How long was asleep?" I asked as I brung up my arms slowly, biting my tongue as I tried to lift myself, falling back to the bed bonelessly, panting through my nose as the impact hurt my chest.

"Are you in pain?" I wanted to say yes but my immature side showed it's head, my shyness returning. I didn't want to look pathetic in front of him so I didn't respond, not trusting my voice as I tried again to get up. "Don't be stubborn, it'll only hurt you more," Sephiroth advised as he walked to the bed, extending his hand. I looked to it cautiously, images of the time of the shower returning, seeming even more vivid than it's actual occurrence. I blushed and lifted my left hand from the bed, my right arm shaking as it tried to hold my weight.

Sephiroth took my hand in his, seeming more gentle than I had thought he would be, seeming to not try to cause me any more pain. Though this was clear different thoughts stirred in my mind. Did he treat me that way because he loved me? I shook my head to clear those thoughts, the action sending pain down my spine and making me yelp in agony, causing my hand to slip on the sheets. I thought I was going to fall but an arm caught me around my waist, holding me securely. "Don't move so rapidly like that," Sephiroth's strict tone ordered, sounding like a parent scolding a child.

I shrank away from him, humiliation burning my cheeks. What was wrong with me? I felt a wave of irritation as Sephiroth helped me to my feet slowly, making me feel incapable and disabled. I refused to talk or even look at him as we walked to the kitchen, Sephiroth having ordered out for dinner.

The noodles I was momentarily chewing on were lacking any taste, the wutaian dish obviously having not been made by an unprofessional in the wutaian cooking arts. When Sephiroth put the fork of noodles in front of me I turned my head away, Sephiroth's temple pulsing. "What now?" he asked irritatedly, my own eyes narrowing. I sighed away my rising anger and tried not to start an argument, wishing I could fist my hand to keep myself calm.

"Why I am in your apartment?" I asked, trying to quench my curiosity that had been eating at me sense I awoke. Sephiroth seemed hesitant to respond, opening his mouth before closing it again, frowning. "You got sick because of mako exposure and it is my responsibility to make sure nothing bad happens." Cloud felt insulted. Responsibility? Was that all he was to him now? A mother fucking nuisance? Cloud's lip rose in snarl but he quickly smothered it with a cough, looking to the glass bowl holding fruit.

"I'm not hungry anymore," I said beneath my breath, holding back my urge to yell at him. He frowned, obviously not satisfied with my answer. "You barely ate anything," Sephiroth argued, my anger near boiling as I snorted. "I know but I'm no longer hungry." Sephiroth sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes as he tried not to just throw the fork down and leave me alone.

"Fine, but you will need to bathe before you go back to resting," Sephiroth ordered, my stare blank as I looked to him. "How am I supposed to take a bath? It's hard enough just walking," I asked in a duh manner, Sephiroth narrowing his eyes at me. "I thought it was obvious." I furrowed my brows in confusion. I leaned back a little as I opened my mouth to say something, my eyes widening in fear as I began to shake my head slowly. "No. There is no way I am letting you do that. Feeding me like a child is all I can handle today, thank you very much," I protested, Sephiroth putting his elbow on the counter as he leaned forward, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"You'll drown if you get in there by yourself," he said in a stoic, intimidating voice, my cheeks heating as I swallowed nervously as I tried not lean back and fall off my chair. Sephiroth's eyes held finality and challenge, daring me to argue against his will. But I could hardly feel intimidated because I could only think about was how his lips would feel. I knew I had kissed him before but the feeling seemed distance now, only the tingle of a memory on my skin. I leaned closer, Sephiroth narrowing his eyes in contemplation, his lips slightly parting. I leaned closer, looking to Sephiroth's narrowed eyes then back to his lips, my tongue darting out and licking my bottom lip. i leaned close enough till our lips nearly touched, though then I stopped completely. "Your not putting me in that bath."

I screamed in protest as Sephiroth held me securely over his shoulder, heading directly for the bathroom. "Your hurting me! Put me down!" I yelled, Sephiroth kicking the bathroom door open, flicking on the light. He lifted me and placed me on the sink, blue eyes meeting his angrily. Sephiroth met me head on, putting his hands on either side of me, leaning in closely, making me lean back against the mirror. "I understand your predicament," Sephiroth said calmly, my eyes narrowing further. "But this type of attitude is unacceptable," Sephiroth said, my eyes rolling as I looked over his shoulder, not meeting his eyes. "Your not a child, stop acting like one," Sephiroth ordered, I breathing through my nose angrily. "Look at me," Sephiroth ordered, I looking back to him with a glare.

Sephiroth held back a sigh as he tried to think of something to say to end this useless bickering, meeting Cloud's glare more calmly. "If I joined you, would you be more willing to bathe?" Sephiroth asked, Cloud's eyes widening as a blush spread on his cheeks. Sephiroth wanted to sigh in relief in his achievement of dispelling Cloud's anger, but he had a feeling this wasn't over. He didn't want to trick the kid into this, knowing that the water will only cause him burning agony, but he could not have him walk around smelling like a hospital and must.

"After this though, I need you to take your medicine," Sephiroth informed, Cloud tilting his head to the side in confusion. "It'll help with the pain," Sephiroth lied, Cloud sighing gratefully. "Good because I miss walking," Cloud replied, Sephiroth smirking. "You still won't be, it just dulls the pain, not erases it," Sephiroth lied smoothly, Cloud frowning almost sadly. "Let's just get this over with then," Cloud sighed, Sephiroth nodding in agreement. He reached for Cloud but he shrank away, his cheeks heating up.

"You undress first," Cloud tried to persuade, Sephiroth frowning in an obvious no. Cloud shifted slightly so the faucet wouldn't dig into his back, looking out of place on the small sink. "I'm only wearing boxers. Your wearing an entire leather outfit still," Cloud reasoned, Sephiroth narrowing his eyes. He sighed as he began to strip, unbuckling the belt that crossed over his torso. He had already discarded his shoulder armor and sword sheath after the first fight he and Cloud had, so the removal of his clothing was simple. He let it drop to the floor lifelessly, rolling his shoulders to relieve the stress in his muscles, Cloud blushing a deep red as he looked to his lap. He then walked to the toilet and sat down, taking off his thigh high boots, Cloud watching him.

I wanted to touch his back and feel the path of his spine and how it bent so gracefully, my eyes wandering. His skin always seemed impenetrable, a marble armor that encased the darkest of secrets. Cloud looked away when he removed both of his boots and socks, standing and removing his leather pants. I thought I would faint as I stared at the curve of his ass, thighs, and calves, my fingers twitching. I wanted to run my hands up his feet, his calves, his thighs, squeeze that perfectly rounded ass and take that cock into my mou-

"Okay your turn," Sephiroth said as he turned to me, his eyes widening. "Why is your nose bleeding? Are you feeling alright, Cloud," Sephiroth asked as he took some sheets of toilet paper off the roll and put it to my nose, only worsening my condition. My head became light headed and bobbed back, hitting the glass with a thud. "Hey, stay awake Cloud," Sephiroth ordered, his hand touching the back of my head to bring it away from the glass that threatened to shatter any minute, his fingers slipping into the spikes of my hair, a shivering running through my body, rattling my sore muscles and bones.

I could hardly feel the pain though because in a way his touch soothed the pain till it seemed tolerable, a light moan escaping my throat. Sephiroth probably thought it was a moan of pain because he removed his hand, letting my head rest against the mirror again, the pain returning to it's normal level. I wanted him to touch me again, and in a way it frightened me.

My nose felt dry but the blood had finally stopped gushing, Sephiroth washing away the blood from my upper lip, asking me every few seconds if I felt okay. I wanted to laugh at the irony of our situation. He thinks I was bleeding because of my sickness, yet in truth my nose was bleeding from seeing him naked. I would have laughed but I didn't want him to think I was going insane. He ran a bubble bath, crouching down to feel the warmth of the water as it filled in the tub, my eyes wandering once again to his ass, his hair though obscuring my view.

Feeling like an old pervert I looked away, a light blush touching my cheeks though I quickly realized something. I have had sex with this man, piratically worshiped his body, yet I why was I still shy? I looked to the still open door, tumbling over my thoughts. Well, to be honest, when it was actually happening I didn't really believe it was. In fact I thought it was only a dream. Though it was quite hard to continue to believe that with the way we had sex. I blushed. The way he handled me, pulled my hair and pounded into my body, it all seemed like a daydream gone a little to off.

I looked to the ceiling, a small smile touching my lips. What if we had became lovers? Cloud's smile quickly fell. How would it have been? Would he have argued with him like he had earlier? Or would he have treated him like a goddess, giving him the respect he was owned, treated him gently during sex, and take him out to expensive restaurants? Cloud bit his lip as he thought, thinking of how it could have been. Would he have been happier?

"Come on," Sephiroth said, bringing me out of my musings as he helped me down, making sure I could stand properly, my hands holding onto the sink, my back to him. I felt awkward and humiliated as he pulled down my boxers, my only protection this entire time. He grasped my left arm and turned me around, guiding me slowly to the tub, stepping in first and kneeling, my cheeks heating up, my mind glad for the bubbles that covered him. He reached for me, grabbing the back of my thigh, making me freeze up.

He noticed and smirked, the gesture not very comforting. "Don't be afraid," he soothed, my eyes cautious as I stared at the bubbles and water. I looked back to him and nodded, lifting my leg with Sephiroth's help, placing my foot on the tub edge. Sephiroth looked at my leg, his eyes trailing up slowly, only increasing my insecurity. I slipped my foot into the water, pulling it out with a hiss, my skin hypersensitive to it, the warmth feeling like fire burning my skin to the bone. "I don't think I can do this," I protested, Sephiroth sighing as he stood, suds falling from his belly button and down his thighs, my cheeks heating up as I looked away.

"I know it hurts, but it's necessary," he tried to persuade, my eyes meeting his hesitantly. "Trust me, it'll get better after you let your body adjust," Sephiroth soothed, my eyes returning to the water. I nodded, taking in a deep breath as I once again, with Sephiroth's help, put my foot back into the water. I bit my tongue to not yelp, leaning forward and grabbing Sephiroth's shoulders, his free hand resting on the back of my other thigh. Once both were in he kneeled once again, helping me get down, Sephiroth sitting down and putting my back to his. Pain, was not a strong enough word to describe the feeling that tore through my body.