Warnings: Language... and Cloud x Seph. If you don't like explicitness, PM me and I'll send you an abridged version.

Chapter 23 : Games Without Frontiers

Cloud had made it to the bed with only the smallest amount of help from the General. A steadying arm, a reassuring presence, and something to hold on to when the cottage spun and his stomach rebelled. At first, walking had been very hard. The floor was too close and he'd slam his foot down, jarring his leg, his knee, his stomach; or it was too far away and he'd nearly fall over when he took a step and it wasn't where he'd thought it would be.

Sephiroth hadn't laughed at him, not once. He hadn't gotten impatient or angry or mocking. He hadn't called him weak or a failure. He walked him over the bed, helping him up the stairs, and explained why there was a landing pad of a bed where his mother's small single mattress used to be. Then the Silver General had helped him take off his boots and his armour, and the intricate weapons harness he had no explanation for.

Now he was watching through slitted eyes as Sephiroth re-wet the cloth before gathering up the bowl. He also picked up a large photo that had been lying on the floor. He smiled so Cloud knew he liked it and the blond couldn't help but wonder who was in it. The General placed it on the side table and Cloud didn't have the energy to ask him to bring it over. He'd have to look at it later.

Wait… a picture. Hadn't he had a picture taken? He'd been standing next to the General… or he'd been taking the picture? No, that wasn't right. The General had been holding him. Except… he'd been holding someone…. Fuck, his brain hurt. Cloud pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes.

Beside him the bed dipped, "Do you have a headache?" A cool cloth was draped over his forehead.

"I don't know what I've got but, whatever it is; it's taking too long to get better."

Sephiroth hummed a non-committal response and turned the cloth over. The blond just watched through narrowed eyes. This was the General doing this; General Sephiroth, the Silver General, the Demon of Wutai, the Commander of ShinRa's military, and he was getting water and a puke bucket for a grunt like him. He had to be dreaming, Cloud decided, especially when his hand was picked up and petted.

"How long was I… was I in pieces?" he asked quietly, enjoying the gentle stroking.

"Zack estimates that it's been just over a year, real time, since you became completely non-responsive but he said he noticed a change within months of being captured. It's possible that was when it started."

"So two years?" Sephiroth nodded. Cloud chuckled a little, "No wonder I feel like a cracked eggshell." He closed his eyes again. He could hear birds calling from the blue sky outside the large window in the room. He could hear the General breathing, hear his leathers creaking as he shifted. He could hear his own pulse beating inside him. He was alive... and sitting on the bed with him was the sexiest man on the planet. Maybe Gaia didn't hate him after all. His mouth quirked up in a sly, half smile, "You know, General, you promised to take your shirt off for me." He had? When had the General done that? Not that he'd object...

The hand stoking his fingers paused. He could feel Sephiroth's searching gaze on his face. His smile evened out and the teasing left his voice. "It would be nice to be held by you. I feel kind of... alone."

"Very well," the General said. The bed shifted. Cloud could hear metal clasps rasping and leather swishing. He opened his eyes a bit and admired the pale skin being revealed.

"No boots on the bed. Ma would have a fit." He smiled at the General's put-upon sigh. Then he enjoyed the view as the silver-haired warrior bent over to undo those fancy buckled boots. As the shiny material pulled tight over that perfectly shaped butt, he once again became aware of his pulse but this time it was beating deeper, lower. He remembered that ass, stroking it, holding on to it as it tightened and released driving Sephiroth into his body. Was that a true memory, or something else his mind had devised in order to survive? Wasn't it enough that Sephiroth was here, caring for him? On the other hand, what was wrong with wanting more?

He scooted over to give Sephiroth room to lie beside him. The Silver General instead chose to sit up, fluffing some pillows to rest his back on. Then he held up his left arm in invitation. "You're not going to lie down?" Cloud asked even as he moved in to rest his head on the General's strong chest.

"I think it would be a very bad idea for me to fall asleep in your mind, Cloud," he pulled the blond in close, joining their hands. "I may not want to leave," he murmured.

Cloud curled one leg over the General's thigh. He was so warm. "I wouldn't mind staying here." Neither would he. It was strange to realize that he was nervous that they wouldn't be together in the real world, not like this. The real world was too hectic, too demanding. Once they returned people would be demanding his time and attention. The doctors would want to take Cloud for testing and examination. They'd barely started their relationship when Hojo had ripped them apart.

However, there were other reasons not to stay. "We'll have to leave eventually, Zack is waiting." But not yet, he wasn't ready to leave yet. He breathed deep, inhaling the scent that was Cloud. It had changed. This scent, and the person behind it, didn't belong to the General yet. Still... it was Cloud's scent and he still wanted to surround himself with it.

Sunlight outlined Sephiroth's muscular chest as it rose and fell. From where Cloud was resting his head, the skin gleamed in the light like a freshwater pearl. His nipples were small pink disks standing proud in the middle of all that beautiful skin. Cloud's fingers itched to touch them but his hand was trapped in the General's. The more he looked at them, the more he wanted to taste. Finally, he just leaned forward and licked the one closest to him instead. It tasted good, it felt right, so Cloud leaned closer, licked more of that smooth, silky skin. He pulled his hand free from the General's large one and ran delicate fingers up over the carved abdomen to play with the nipple on the other side. Sephiroth tensed but made no move to stop the gentle exploration.

"I know your smell," Cloud murmured, "I've tasted you, felt you, been surrounded by you. It wasn't a dream…"

"No," Sephiroth agreed, his eyes closing in pleasure, "It wasn't a dream."

They opened again in surprise when the small blond suddenly sat up and straddled his lap. "Cloud," he started to protest but he stopped because Cloud looked happy, as if he'd been given a gift. His to touch—hadn't Sephiroth thought that of him and Zack back in their bed in camp? Cloud looked as if that thought was running through his mind: hungry and possessive and joyful, and the General decided that he liked how it looked on his lover. As delicate hands stroked lightly and small teeth nipped sharply, Sephiroth slitted his eyes in pleasure and barely refrained from purring. This was close to the Cloud he remembered.

His analysis of what the young soldier was thinking had been very accurate. Cloud could remember, dimly and oddly disjointed, but it was a true memory at least, but he could remember being allowed to claim the General. It was wonderful, beyond wonderful, to be allowed to do that again. He could forget about how his body didn't seem to fit on himself and loose himself in discovering just how well Sephiroth's did and maybe, perhaps, he'd find out how well their bodies fit together...

Plan made, he lifted his lips from the hard little nubs he'd created. He raised his hands to the slim, elegant face of his lover—his lover! "I want to explore you." He wasn't quite asking permission.

"I'd like that." Yes, my Cloud, he thought, claim me and I'll make you mine. Then maybe this nameless, baseless fear will go away.

Brow and eyebrow, cheek and chin, nose and mouth were all touched and memorized. Then Cloud switched to using his mouth. He buried his hands in the General's hair and realized that the long, silver strands were one of his favourite things. The General's scent was imbedded in its impractical length, and its silky strength embodied all the world's images of the Silver General. Very few were allowed to touch it. Even fewer were allowed to surround themselves in it. He, little Cloud Strife from Nibelheim, was allowed to do both.

He was already more than half hard and he hadn't even gotten to the really good bits yet.

Cloud couldn't keep their first kiss soft. He'd planned to but he couldn't. He wanted this man so. When their lips touched, he slanted his head and ran his tongue along the seam of the General's fine, sculpted mouth. The General gave an appreciative hum and let him in. Cloud couldn't help but make his own noise as he entered. His excited groan echoed in his chest. He explored the moist warmth with all the enthusiasm and finesse of a thirteen-year old discovering sex for the first time. He moved his hands to hold the General's jaw so he could feel the muscles and bones moving under smooth skin. It was its own form of caress.

His hips started jerking. He was so hard it hurt. He needed to breathe... or something. He pulled away from the addictive warmth of the General's mouth to focus on the heat lower down. He rubbed his groin against the General's hard belly, aware but barely conscious of Sephiroth's own arousal rubbing his cleft through their pants. Strong hands came up and took hold of his hips, stilling their compulsive movement. "Shhh, Cloud," Sephiroth whispered soothingly, "We have time." The longer it took the more their scents would entwine until they were inseparable.

Cloud shook his head, jerking it once back and forth, "Don't wanna wait." He opened large glowing eyes. His pupils were just thin slits, "Two years I've waited to fuck you and I hate being patient."

Before Sephiroth could recover from the glimpse of Niisan in his lover, Cloud had rolled off his lap and attacked his clothes, stripping with ruthless efficiency. He used the same determination to pull Sephiroth's pants down but leather doesn't slide very well, especially when it's being sat on. Despite all Cloud's frustrated growls, he only got them down to the middle Sephiroth's thighs before giving up; it was taking too long and, really, he'd uncovered the best part. He reached with greedy hands only to have them batted away. Sephiroth was smiling as he shifted Cloud over so that he could strip his pants off the rest of the way. He resettled himself on the bed, sitting up, looking relaxed. He wasn't. All his instincts told him to grab the blond and take control; to throw him onto the bed and cover him; to imprint himself on the one he'd claimed as his mate. Instead he forced himself to be passive as Cloud kneeled at his feet.

"You're beautiful, General," Cloud whispered reverently before running his hands up Sephiroth's strong, pale legs. He licked and bit and sucked occasionally, enjoying the flavour of his lover. His lover! He still couldn't believe it, but he certainly wasn't going to say 'no'. Besides, when the General's full, heavy erection was right there in front of him, he didn't want to say anything. He wanted to wrap his lips around it and swallow it down. So he did. He dove upon it like a spoiled child attacking the presents at his birthday. He wrapped his hands around it, holding it steady for his lips and tongue. He knew he should be taking this slow, savouring it, but he couldn't. His whole body ached with want. He felt like he was going to cum just from touching the General. His fingers felt disconnected from the rest of him, and his cock felt hard enough to pound steel. All he could hear was his pulse beating and his breath rasping as he panted and tried desperately to control himself.

Cloud was too far gone to hear the General groan as he also fought for control of his body. As his small lover slid his warm, wet mouth down his engorged penis, he couldn't help but react. He fisted his hands in the bed cover but it wasn't enough of a release. His legs kicked out, his hips jerked and his weight shifted. It was enough to cause the blond to lose his balance and he fell across the General's legs, straddling one strong limb. The pressure against Cloud's sensitized erection felt like a benediction. He moaned and rubbed himself against the General's smooth, firm thigh. He rubbed himself, and whimpered, lost in the sensation.

He remembered this... but differently. He didn't remember feeling so frenzied. His whole body was tight. He couldn't take in enough air. He had to move. There was something, something he knew was close. Lightning and he wanted it. "Please, please. I need it. Please," he chanted.

His fist tightened around the stiff cock he still held. He whispered pleas and promises, his breath teasing the hot flesh. He could feel the General writhing under him, twisting his body, pressing up with his thigh as Cloud pressed down. It was slick now and the movement was easier. It wasn't perfect but it was close. It was enough to concentrate the force within him. He exploded. Bolts streaked through him, making him cry out as his body convulsed. Helpless whimpers punctuated each thrust and his hands clenched and released, clenched and released, caught up in the rhythm of his climax.

It felt wonderful. He smiled and enjoyed the happy, relaxation that accompanies a good, mind-emptying orgasm. He wanted to stay here, to feel this, forever and ever and ever, but even in his sex-hazed mind, he knew it couldn't be that way, eventually, he'd have to move. Then he stiffened in realization. He'd cum. They hadn't even done anything and he'd had an orgasm, spewing himself all over the General's leg.

Oh shit. He groaned, hiding his head against Sephiroth's hard belly. What was he? Some little over-hormonal teenager who got sprung just by walking next to a pretty girl? But it had felt so good. He looked up, embarrassed to have gone from so little, ready to apologize to his General, ready to see that beloved face laughing at him, making fun of his lack of control. That's not what he saw.

The General's pale cheeks were flushed and his eyes glittered. He was smiling, but it was a triumphant smile, full of anticipation and arousal. "Feel better, my Cloud?" he purred and Cloud shivered. Embarrassment was replaced by something else.

"For the moment," he responded, breathless and predatory. It was true, just looking at his lover's strong face so filled with lust for him was making him get erect again, even if just a little bit. Words fell out of his mouth, "I want you inside me. It won't be right until I can feel you inside me." He hadn't even known he felt like that but, having said it, he knew that it was true.

"Hmmm," the silver-haired warrior hummed his approval. "We need some lubricant then" He reached over to the small side table. "I wonder what kind we have this time?" he mused even as he pulled out a small tub and opened it. "Ah, citrus. Nice choice." He held it out to the blond, "You should prep yourself."

Cloud swallowed, sat up and dipped his fingers into the fragrant cream. The General took a scoop for himself before setting the tub aside.

"Go ahead, Cloud. Make yourself ready for me." His voice was dark and seductive. "Let me see you."

Cloud had to take a breath. As much as he loved the way his General was looking at him, he was still a small-town boy at heart. Sex was one thing, everybody did it, but it was private. Only depraved people made a show of it.

Yet, yet it didn't make him feel depraved, a part of him said, didn't he feel sexy and hot, and wouldn't it be great if he could make the General burn for him? That was the voice he should listen to, he decided. He could feel the smile on his face. He knew it matched the one on Sephiroth's. He reached behind himself, touching his puckered opening with his slick fingers.

Sephiroth brought his covered fingers down to his own swollen flesh and, hissing because his touch was almost too much, carefully greased his thick erection. He made sure to cover every millimeter. As much as possible, he didn't want Cloud, any part of Cloud, to be hurt when he entered.

Cloud watched him, even as he pushed his finger inside himself. He watched the Silver General stroke the cream over his thick length. It looked like cum. He whimpered helplessly and leaned forward, pressing his own hard length to the General's. Sephiroth chuckled lowly but obliged the wordless plea and shifted his slick fingers to hold Cloud's erection next to his own, covering it, stroking them together, and enjoying the small moans the blond couldn't hold inside.

Two fingers inside himself now, moving and stretching desperately, until he'd had enough. The General was a big man but it would be okay, Cloud told himself. He couldn't wait anymore.

He lifted himself, spreading his cheeks, "Hold it steady," he ordered the General before lowering himself. He pushed down. His body resisted. Lift and try again.

"Easy, Cloud," Sephiroth murmured when the blond growled in frustration. He lifted a hand to his lover's pretty mouth and teased the plump flesh. To his delight, Cloud's tongue came out to lick at it. He encouraged the play, dipping his fingertip into the moist warmth and, as more of the blond's attention was pulled to the action occurring up top, Cloud's lower body opened to him as well. It didn't take long before he was past the inner barrier and buried deep in the young man's heat. It was wonderful, better than he remembered.

"General!" Cloud called out even as he pushed down hard, seating Sephiroth's length all the way inside him. "Oh, Gaia, that feels good," he murmured. Full and hot and not alone, how could he have forgotten any of this? He squeezed it a couple times, just to make sure it was real... it was. They weren't alone. He should take this slowly, relax into it, let it build; but he couldn't. He was slick enough that their bodies moved against each other easily. He wanted it hard and he wanted it feral. It wasn't going to be making love; it was mating; marking each as belonging to the other. So Cloud lifted himself and drove himself down, as hard as he could, as fast as he could, and it felt wonderful. It felt like the General was imprinting himself into Cloud's core, reaching all the way to his heart.

Cloud could feel the sweat gathering in rivulets on his body and, when he opened his eyes, he could see the drops decorating the General's skin, glowing like diamonds against the rich pearl tone of Sephiroth's skin. There was a drop, high on Sephiroth's neck, just starting to run down that strong column. Cloud watched it, fascinated by how its path was changed when the General murmured his words of praise and encouragement. It caught on the strong collar bone, and ran along the rim of it, so Cloud leaned forward and chased it with his tongue. He remembered that taste, full of salt and acid and Sephiroth.

The General took his face in his long hands and lifted it, "My Cloud. So wonderful," he crooned before capturing that agile tongue so that he could play with it.

The kiss didn't last long. Cloud didn't stop his punishing rhythm so he was calling out, wordless sounds, every time he pushed down on Sephiroth's large erection. He knew he should remember this except it was different, stronger, harsher, more primal. It was exactly what he wanted. He could feel the end nearing, the power gathering in his spine. His heart was thumping so hard it seemed like it would bruise his ribs. It couldn't happen yet. He wasn't ready yet. There was something missing.

"Please, please," he begged. What was he begging for? He didn't actually know until he opened lust heavy eyes and looked straight into the General's bright mako-green. His pearl-pale skin was flushed, his normally thin lips were full, but he was still containing his reactions. He was in control of his body and it was obvious that he wanted Cloud to go over first. That was what was wrong.

Cloud could've maybe accepted going at the same time as his lover, but he didn't want to be first, helpless, vulnerable, blind and lost—how could he truly enjoy that? He had a much better idea. "Cum for me, Sir," he ordered, "I want to feel it."

He leaned forward again, grabbing Sephiroth's plump bottom lip in his teeth and tugging on it. "I want to feel you cum." He even managed to slow down his desperately pumping hips, not completely—that was asking too much, but he would slam himself down, tighten his inner muscles and pull up slowly, squeezing the General's length all the way. Once. Twice. It felt so good... too good.

His plan was backfiring.

"Fuck, you feel good, General," he moaned, "Cum, please, do it, for me," he chanted. His eyes closed, his head fell back on a neck too weak to hold it up. His moan turned into a whimper as even his voice lost its strength.

He didn't hear his lover growl, he didn't see his eye's flash with emotion, but he did notice when Sephiroth surged forward and caught him in strong arms. One hand grabbed his shoulder, forcing his neck to the side so that strong teeth could grab on. The other latched on to his hip, pushing and pulling Cloud's body to maximize the friction. Sephiroth even folded his legs under them so he could rock more forcefully into his lover's small body. He released Cloud's neck to whisper in his left ear, "For you, my Cloud," And then he let himself go.

Genetically-enhanced fingers clamped down, bruising flesh and bone. Smooth rhythms turned choppy and erratic. A groan worked its way out from Sephiroth's belly, through ribs and lungs, heart and throat. He buried it in Cloud's ear, latching on to that sexy wolf-head earring and making it vibrate with the intensity of the sound. The General's moan pulsed in his ear just as the General's orgasm pulsed in his body, echoing, vibrating. He didn't get to see the Silver General's face dissolve in pleasure but he could feel it throughout his body and that was good enough. He had to respond.

His own rhythm turned into helpless jerks as everything in him reacted to his lover's call. Heat, light, energy, power, pleasure, love, warmth, and acceptance, ran through his body in waves, from his core to his toes and his fingertips. He could feel every artery, every sinew, every muscle and bone. He knew his place in the universe, now, and it was right here with his General. Then he knew nothing.

"Sir, oh gods, Sir." He collapsed, boneless, without strength or thought; helpless but safe within his lover's strong arms.

"My Cloud," Sephiroth purred, content at last.

Zack was pretty sure that only someone with enhanced senses would be able to hear the small sounds coming from the other room. He knew he was right when Kunsel came up with the coffee pot and, under cover of giving him a refill, whispered, "I thought Strife was unconscious." In the Second's undertone was the question, 'Was the General taking advantage of a guy in a coma.'

The Second had come in, dragging with him a couple techno-grunts Master-Sergeant Lutton had ordered. It was obvious the three regular soldiers couldn't hear the unmistakeable noises as they continued to sort and sift through years of data and reports.

Zack kept his tone just as low as Kunsel's had been. "He's not really unconscious," Zack defended the absent General. Kunsel looked at him, "Trust me, it's not what you're thinking."

It felt odd when Kunsel nodded once, accepting his assurances. "Okay, Zack. You know them both the best."

"Thanks, man." So fucking odd, he thought. It had been a long time since his word had been good for anything except as a knife to make him feel guilty and worthless and unable to protect anyone. He shook himself out of the past. He'd appreciate his new reality and move on because, really, what choice did he have?

Of course, he'd appreciate this reality more if it didn't hold so many friggin' reports!

Vincent assessed the landing strip. It was nothing more than a level space cleared of trees or brush, but that wasn't a bad thing because grass was often more forgiving than asphalt. It was large enough to allow a heavy transport airship to land and unload. It should be big enough for their bout.

They'd made a quick side trip to the armoury so that he could upgrade his gun. He'd found both a long barrelled pistol and a heavy calibre handgun he liked so he traded in his old automatic, the same one he'd been issued as a Turk, and let Tifa sign them out to him. He'd have to practice with them to make them feel as natural as the Quicksilver but he'd played with the handgun, drawing and flipping it, and it felt good in his hand. It should. It was an S&W 'Outsider' which had been their top-of-the-line model back in his day. Tifa had promised to take him to the shooting range later, if, she'd teased, she hadn't put him in the hospital.

He watched her warm-up and stretch. She was wearing leather armour that appeared well-used and sturdy. Despite her bright eyes and wide smile, its black harshness suited her. After all, she was a warrior as well as a woman. She had on heavy boots and fingerless gloves which reminded him of his own armour. He was so used to the heavy brass gauntlet and boots that he rarely gave them a thought but, in this situation, he could accidentally do a great deal of damage to the small fighter if he connected with them.

He removed the gauntlet first. He wore a thin leather glove underneath to both protect and hide the ugly scarred flesh that covered his hand. Then he knelt to remove his sabatons. It felt odd to be without them. He actually felt lighter than he had in ages. He bounced a little on his bare toes just to experience the feel of it.

*She's looking at you, my host.*

'We are going to be fighting very soon,' Vincent responded, 'Of course she will be examining me, trying to determine my style and my weaknesses.'

Chaos snorted, *You are so oblivious. That's not what she's looking at, my little immortalis. She's looking at your feet. Maybe she believes that old folk tale of long feet, long cock; and your feet are very very long.* Vincent winced as his guest chortled. Chaos' occasional crudity always made him uncomfortable. *I wonder what she would look like stripped bare...?*

Vincent buried his blush behind the high collar of his cloak. He didn't want to be thinking of Tifa like that, but now the image had been planted in his mind. Damn Chaos for the demon-spawn it was.

"You ready?" she asked.

He nodded once and waited as she assumed a standard fighting stance. He waited with the same unending patience that had let him stay in a coffin for decades. She wasn't as patient and, when she came at him first, she gave him the advantage. He took a moment to admire the smoothness of her motion and the power of her attack before he had to defend himself.

She aimed high, he blocked. The elbow of her other arm came up, heading toward his chin. He swayed backwards, a hand coming up to grab her wrist. It left his ribs undefended and she struck… almost. His opposite hand was there to grab her. Now he had both of her arms caught but his were crossed in front of him. She spun, gathering his arms over one shoulder. She bent, stretching him forward, and pushed up, both pulling and throwing him to the ground in front of her. It was an interesting move, but he was much too tall for it to have any real force. Still, it made him twist awkwardly so that he would land on his feet rather than on his backside.

It was while he was regaining his balance from the throw, that she kicked him in the head and knocked him sideways.

He looked at her stunned, both physically and mentally. She had landed a blow on him... and it had hurt. She licked her finger and wrote an invisible '1' in the air.

*Ooooh, my host, she is a bold little morsel. We really should find out if she tastes as spicy as she acts.*

Vincent picked himself up. He didn't bother brushing the dirt off his ragged cloak. Instead, he settled lightly on his toes, raised his fists and, staring her deliberately in the eyes, opened his hand and waved his fingers at her in the universal invitation to fight. She smiled, and charged.

This was, indeed, going to be lots of fun.