Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they simply belong to Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura. This is purely a work of fan fiction.

Italics: Inner Cloud or Sephiroth talking

AN: Yep, this yet another edited chapter! Woo! ...Or maybe not woo...depending on how you look at it ^^; I decided to a little house cleaning on this chapter...and MAN OH MAN...I took out some stuffs and added to it XD Yeah. I kinda add a little something to this to make it seem like it has some depth to it. Kinda draw it a little since I'm gonna try and add to make a little more interaction between Cloud and Sephiroth going ons. Especially since I seemed to have had them jump into almost INSTANT relationship. Given, this is FAN fiction. So, if I wanted, I could have them riding down some magical rainbow while screwing. But I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna try and add a little more depth to this tale so that it you guys get a little more out of this. Instead of it ending up in angst of an ending or draw it out to the point that I want to just drop kick this into Hell.

Anyways, to my old readers, enjoy the editing done to this on May 5, 2012. To the new readers. Mew?

Chapter 8

With everything that had happened within a short time of the week; there had been many things he had wondered, how in the HELL had it all come down to this? He had gone from assuming he was straight, to realizing, he swung towards a different world. Why hadn't he had seen the signs? It seemed he was always the last to know. And the last to get picked up. Especially as he paced the sidewalk like a caged animal in front of the Cafe. Now and again, clenching and unclenching the book in his hands. His mind was racing as he clenched the binding harder and harder each time. Just a few moments ago, he had come face to face with the man responsible for writing the novel in his hands. It had just been on a whim he had bought the book. More like, Zack had egged him on, even dared him to buy it. How was he to know it would turn his world around towards starting to fall madly in love with the author? Then again, another thought was running through his head that was saying, 'What are you saying? You just met the man! You can't just instantly be madly in love with this guy!' But then, that little man in his head would kicked in the seat of his pants by a five inch stilleto heel being worn by an overly dressed flamboyant man. The flamboyant man would only make the little man realize, 'Sweetie. It was bound to happen. That author is a God.'
Now and again, Cloud would glance up and down the street to see if anyone had called the cops on him. He had to be looking suspicious at this point. He knew calling Zack wasn't worth his time. Zack was probably taking his time getting to the Cafe, or had gotten lost...seeing as how he had spent most of time trying to talk to Cloud. And less time keeping an eye on his surroundings which he wished he would learn to do. But right now, there was no point wishing for it right now.

"Heh...sometimes, I just wish I had forgotten about this thing..."Cloud muttered as he stopped momentarily down at a corner; turning the book over and over in his hands, "All its brought me is mixed feelings for a guy whose down right straight...like I am...or I think I still am. And has left me wondering where my airhead of a friend is at.

Much like the comical alien Kazoo out of 'The Flinstones', the little gay man in his conscious came to the forefront, clicking his tongue at him, "Oh sweetie, sweetie, sweetie...you're still new to realizing that you're G-A-Y. Its alright to deny it...believe me. I was ready to deny I existed inside of you. But, much like everything else in life...I just had to accept that I am what I am. And you are what you are."

"I know...but...why do I have to be stuck on a street corner waiting for my friend?"

His voice rang out through the street corner as it seemed to stop passerbyers in their tracks as they stared in awkward silence at Cloud, "...Great. Now I really look like I'm crazy."

"At least you aren't wearing something stereotypical and being crazy."

"...Yeah."

Taking a glance down to his phone, Cloud mentally told himself, 'He's got five more minutes...and then I'm hitchhiking it home. Even if its with some total stranger.'
"WHERE IS ZACK!"

XXX

Sephiroth never claimed himself to be a boastful or proud man, but as he sat back in his desk chair. He began to admire the countless pages that were staring at him front behind the computer monitor. A fire had been lit under his fingertips, it was a fire that had burned brighter then anytime other when it had been on his other novels. Something about it seemed perfect, almost right. The only question was, who could he get to publish it for him? Without giving into knowing that its him working under a pseudo name. Passing it off to Raechel would be committing writer's suicide. Someone else that hardly knew him had toget the work published for him and without questions to avoid criticism.

"You know, darling, of all the people I've seen through these rose tinted lenses," conscious spoke up as he tilted the rose tinted lenses about in his fingers,"there is no one I would trust to help you with this venture...except maybe..."

Sephiroth was listening, but his fingers had started to crease over something he had pulled out of the book and kept as a souvenior. It was the gum wrapper bookmark from Cloud's copy of his work. He didn't know why he had kept it, maybe a sentimental value or he had just forgotten to return it to the book.
The conscious had begun to roll his eyes as he let out a faint sigh, "You're thinking about him aren't you?"

"Maybe...He was a rather interesting young man to talk to. Compared to those cackling hens that usually hound me," Sephiroth sighed as he rolled his eyes, remembering the waitress, "He didn't try to act like he was flattering me."

A soft chuckle came forth from inside his head, "That's only because he was a little awestruck. Give the kid some credit...its not everyday they're in the presence of a God."

A sly cat like smile crossed Sephiroth's features, "A God, huh? What kind of God writes homoerotic literature? You answer me that..." pushing away from the desk, Sephiroth began to pad across the Living Room to the kitchen for a drink, "Honestly, why should I even think to have an interest in the kid? For all I know he could be a High School student. Even if it seems like he might be a little older then that."

It was hard to not to think back on that boy, maybe he was the reason that he had written those starting pages of a new project. Because in some ways, the way he had described the young school boy seemed to describe the young blond. Even the Teacher he had written into the novel was almost a mirror image of himself. More or less, a twist of one of his favorite Professors in College. Oh God. Did he have a crush on his old College professor? That was a thought he didn't want to think on as he tried to think on other things. Much like a man would do to get rid of a pitched problem. And no matter how many things he came up to get rid of the image in his head, and thoughts, they kept coming ten fold.

"AAH! This can't be happening to me! I can't be falling in love with some blond stranger I hardly know!" Sephiroth felt that he was going mad as he ran his fingers through his hair while pacing the kitchen, "...Its all your damn fault!"

He was yelling at no one in general as he rolled his eyes upwards, "Its your damn fault! If you had just stayed hidden in my subconscious, this wouldn't be happening!"

"It was bound to happen eventually, sweetie, but remember this..." mentally the conscious tugged on Sephiroth's ear like a bad child, "I. AM. YOU. LEARN TO ADAPT."

There was no way to fight that argument, but, even if he was feeling an attraction towards the blond, what if the blond wasn't feeling the same? He didn't want to end up with a restraining order against him if he started to stalk down the blond. Especially given his reputation. It would be odd to see his mug in the paper instead of a crazed fan that had been arrested for trying to stalk and, in secret, convince him to sign a Marriage Certificate. Even while still married. He didn't need the bad press if he ended up stalking the blond, but then it hit him. Fishing into his pocket, he realized he still had the gum wrapper with the young man's number on it. No harm in calling him up to arrange a time to sit down and have coffee like two civilized guys.

"Seph…darling…what are you thinking?" a hint of worry was in the figure's voice as he cautiously watched the man walk the room over, but then it hit him, "You're thinking of him…and using him for…Oh! You are such a genius! I can't believe you didn't think of it sooner!"

"Its only because you're only thinking of how to get me to dress more like you?" Sephiroth wagered a guess to the conscious figment, and when all he got was a roll of the figure's eyes, "That's what I thought."

It was a concept that could work, just as long Raechel didn't catch on that he was going to be seeing a fan. He didn't need her feeding onto that and running with it. She had been the one to let him in on how crazy some fans could get. He knew well enough after watching enough of that murder mystery channel's shows. Miracles of miracles, he was still able to go out of the house without worry he'd become a statistic. Asking the young man to coffee somewhere would be a great opportunity to get to feel the kid out. As awkward as that sounded in his head. Even pitch the idea to him if the situation brought up or gave room to introduce it.

His fingers played over the wrapper in his fingers, "I think I should give him sometime to reel in what's happened...don't need to be scaring the poor kid. I just hope that he's not still out on the street corner waiting for a ride."

"I'm sure by now his friends have come to pick him up...its not like they would forget him, right?"

XXX

Then again, things had been known to happen. The last time Cloud had trusted Zack to pick him up from anywhere had been a time he wished he had just died. Finals were hard enough without having to put up with others in the Dormitories trying to make plans for end of the School year parties. It didn't help when above their room was a seemingly, "co-ed" room and it had seemed during the time to study for finals. The "co-eds" were having a little bit of pre-Finals "study time", rather loudly. Late hours of studying and lack of sleep had weakened Cloud's immune system that he had gotten a mixture of head cold, sniffles, chills, fever, and vomiting. Finals had been outside his scope of thought by the time test day rolled around. He wanted to call it and ask for a make up date at a later time when he didn't have his fingers wrapped around the knob to death's door. But, like the good student he had been, he had gone on to class, taken the tests and wanted to get back to bed.

Unfortunately, Zack hadn't gotten that memo.

Much like he was getting it now as he aimlessly drove the streets looking for the Cafe where Cloud was held up at. Angeal was attempting to be the quiet passenger, not wanting to interfere, but by the time they had passed the same little old lady, more then once already. It was time to intervene.

"Pup, I think you're lost."

Zack glanced momentarily to Angeal as he about ran through a red light, "What makes you say that, Angeal?"

"For one, you're not focused on the road. Second, that's a One Way Street you're coming up on...and have been on for the last twenty minutes and Third...You passed the Cafe a few streets back."

The car's brakes could be heard squealing as Zack slammed on them, "Why didn't you say something?"

"Because I figured you would've at least paid at little bit of attention on the way there before...instead of trying to gab Cloud's ear off."

"Hmph."

Angeal could see that his words had ruffled his Puppy's ego, "Want me to drive?"

A faint nod of the head.

"Get out and let me get in the driver's seat. Let's just hope by now that Cloud isn't fuming mad."

XXX

Everything seemed just perfect to Sephiroth; he was going to start writing on a topic he had never written on. Something he hadn't done since his Free Writing Class in College. He had someone in mind to read over his first few draft pages of work, and then it was just a case of finding a different Publishing Company to put out through.

Yes, everything would be perfect had it not been for one tiny little inkling of doubt.

Raechel.

There would be no way in Hell that she would allow the man to go around her to publish with another company, even if it was under a Pseudo Name. It would be Writer's Suicide. Not to mention the intentionally pending lawsuit that would come upon his head among her wrath. It seemed, neither one of them had thought that far. Living in blissful ignorance.

Must be nice.

"One thing…"Sephiroth had to sit down, "…What about Raechel?"

"What about that little tart? She has no say on what you do with your life or what you write?"

"…In a way she does…she's the one that got me into the business…"

It was one thing to try and write a whole new direction of novel work, but attempting to get it pass one publisher who was a mixture of all the things a Publishing company was; it wasn't so simple; "…I see…well foofie…all those wonderful ideas and an absolutely perfect way for you to see that cute little blond again all dashed away like a pair of Couture sunglasses washed down a storm drain…Well, Mr. Big Time Writer…what do you suggest we do about getting this new work, more like work in progress, of yours out there to some other unknown public figures?"

XXX

Cloud brushed at his nose with a tissue he had managed to produce out of his pocket, "Either someone is predicting an overcast covering of clouds, or I'm just really popular today..."

"You don't have to cry, Spiky, we're here!" Zack called out from the passenger window as he tried to stop himself from falling out of it, "So, dry those tears, the Zack Man is here!"

"That doesn't even rhyme."

Angeal chuckled as he watched the duo go back and forth, "What he means to say is, we would've been here sooner had it not been for the fact a certain Puppy is directionally challenged."

"Says you!" Zack snapped back, "I just get turned around with so many streets, but with you its different I could find your di-"

"Shut up! Don't even finish that sentence, Zack," Cloud snapped out as he pushed his friend back into the car and climbed into the backseat, "Today has been chaotic enough...let's just go home.

"…Nice to see you too, Cloud," Zack muttered as he looked over his shoulder, "Want to talk about it, buddy?"

Cloud's angered, confused, and overall flustered expression said it all, "Just drive home…I'll tell you about it later…"

Zack simply shrugged as he turned back around and motioned to Angeal to drive them home. Complete silence engulfed the small car as Zack kept his fingers away from the radio dials, Cloud was upset enough and adding to that anger. Which would likely resort in having to explain why something was broken in the car and crammed into Zack's face. Cloud silently drummed his fingers against the side of the window. Zack had never seen Cloud this upset. The only other time he had seen that storm cloud face was when Zack got a call to pick up Cloud from the Movies. It had seemed that his "date" hadn't gone too well. His date had all but flat out him that she wanted to break up with him. Explaining why the Ushers had been giving Cloud the evil eye, was another story entirely. The storm cloud on Cloud's face was because of him, but it was lined with fustration of what to do about the recent interest. A big thunder cloud of confusion, loss, excitement, and several others. Each fighting to be heard over the rumble of the other.

"…So, who was the guy you were talking with…or at least tried to talk to before you ran off with the car?"

"I thought it was someone I knew, but I was wrong…" Cloud was a terrible liar, especially when it came to his friends, "…And I guess I over reacted…a little…"

Zack had a look that could make even a room full of sour pusses started to chortle and chuckle. It was comical as he looked from the rearview mirror to watching the lines on the road go by. Had he been behind the wheel of the car, he would 've slammed his foot on the brake. Cloud could tell there was a dislike of something in Zack's eyes, even if he wasn't looking at him. Angeal knew it all too well. He had known the look when he had told Zack that an old friend of his was coming by to see him. Zack was either jealous, or was furious under that gaze. Cloud was hiding something and he didn't like being shut out. Being shut out, that was what almost cost them their friendship once after he had saved Cloud from an embarrassing walk home one night. The same night he had gotten the heartbreaking call from Cloud's now ex's house. It was building up steam. Then, Zack's eyes turned towards Angeal as he noticed they were a few minutes from the apartment.

"Get out," Zack muttered as he looked to the rearview mirror at Cloud, "Get out."

"What?"

"GET OUT OF THE CAR, CLOUD!" Zack was furious, "GET OUT BEFORE I HAVE TO DRAG YOU OUT MYSELF!"

"Damn, Zack, what is your problem?"

"You are!" Zack slammed his car door as he came around as Cloud was scrambling out of the backseat, "What is your problem? Why do you think you have to lie to me about something that is obviously a lie. Especially when its about that guy you sputtered out that silly dribble at, ditched both me and Angeal for, then came back, ditched us again while still on your phone, what is really going on?"

The man's blue eyes turned cold as he shoved Zack away from him, "I don't have to explain myself to you."

Simple as that…

"…I have never had to explain myself to you…so why should I even start now…?"

Zack looked at his friend's angered face,"…Because I'm your friend and I worry…is it a crime that I'm not aware of?"

"…No…"Cloud muttered; neither had realized that Angeal had pulled into the parking place in front of the apartment, "…I just don't like getting the fifth degree about things going on in my life, its not like I grill you aboutyour life and what you do with Angeal or the problems you two may be having…"
"That's because I've got a way of looking at life and handling what life throws at me in a different perspective…You've just got to learn to relax and stop bottling it all up inside till you turn into the bitch you were this afternoon…" Zack ruffled his friend's hair playfully as he saw the same almost comical look Zack had had on his face earlier, "What?"
Cloud was not in the mood, but, "Did you just call me a bitch?"
"Um, maybe…" Zack decided to play it off, figuring it to be a part of Cloud's ill temper at the moment, "Why?"
"…No reason, but…there is something I want to talk to you about later…" there was something about the way Cloud said the words that seemed to put Zack in a 'worried about you' mood, "…Nothing too serious…just something I need to get off my chest."
"Hey, what ever, man, I'm here if you need me," Zack smiled.