"Heya, my name is Aerith. A Seer in training. It looks like I'll be tending to that wound, too." The young woman introduced.
Cloud wondered how a gem like her was here in a box of useless rocks. Well, maybe Sephiroth wasn't a dull rock, either. The same could be said with a few others now that he thought about it.
"Then I suppose I double owe you." Cloud hated that his luck turned out like this.
"No worries. You don't have to pay me back at all." Aerith insisted.
"He won't forget, you know. When he declared a life debt to me, I told him the same thing. Didn't know that act of kindness would come back to me, eventually." Tifa was in a daze. Her mind was still processing what transpired.
To be honest Cloud was of the same nature. It all happened so fast. And yet slow somehow. It was all so strange.
"I feel like I need more mead." Cloud groaned as the adrenaline started to wear off.
"Oh, no. Not until you've had your medicine." Aerith reprimanded.
Genesis brought Cloud to Sephiroth's house. Aerith left their side briefly to gather her herbs and bandages. Tifa remained by their side.
"I'm afraid you're going to be a bit exposed to get a better look at that wound. The blood is beginning to dry. Hold him down, will you? This might hurt." Genesis knew enough what to do before the Seer came back.
Tifa placed her hands on Cloud's shoulder. She knew she might need both to help keep him down. He was about to ask for a countdown when Genesis went straight into pulling the pants down with a harsh yank.
A scream tore from his throat. He tried to rise up to punch Genesis. He seriously didn't have to do that. But Tifa kept him at bay.
"Don't punch the one who helped keep you alive." Genesis reprimanded as he began cleaning the wound with a rag and clean water.
"Why did you, anyway?" Cloud huffed, going still. Tifa pulled away.
"Because I knew Sephiroth will become a bitter asshole. I haven't seen him so...happy, in so many years." Genesis explained.
"Are we even talking about the same man?" Tifa almost laughed.
"You've only seen what he allows you to see. I am one of his closest friends. Which means I know about the kiss Cloud and Sephiroth had yesterday."
"What?" She gasped as she turned her attention on Cloud, who was blushing bright red.
"Can we not talk about it?" The blond wished he wasn't here in this predicament. But then again he only has to blame himself.
"Talk about what?" Aerith's voice spoke up.
"What is going on between you and Sephiroth? Shouldn't you hate him after all that's happened?" Tifa backed away, unsure what to make of this information.
"I don't know, either, okay!?" Cloud snapped. At her fearful expression he raised a hand to his eyes to try and calm himself.
Aerith caught sight of a detail. She moved closer to gently grasp his left wrist. Cloud opened his eyes to watch her turn his hand for all to see the dagger bite.
"So it is true. My mother suspected a blood pact." Aerith studied the mark.
It was fully healed by now. Cloud usually kept it hidden from view. He had noticed that this was never brought up, therefore Sephiroth was trying to keep it a very hidden secret.
"But a blood pact wouldn't be behind whatever is going on. Should it?" Tifa wondered.
"That depends how they held hands." Aerith studied the blond curiously. "Did he hold his hand over yours, or were your fingers intertwined?"
Cloud paled. This wasn't what he needed to hear. He had his suspicions from the beginning. But now wasn't the time.
"Their hands intertwined." Genesis confirmed.
"That brings a level of intimacy into the blood pact. It can pull them together. The stronger the bond the stronger the pull. It only stops when their hearts become one." Aerith spoke with sadness, but her eyes had a strange kind of hope in them.
Cloud was almost fully panicking inside. He wanted to get up and run. Bolt like a frightened deer. It grew harder to breathe. His left hand burned from his urgency.
"Take this. You're panicking too much." Aerith shoved a strange bitter herb into Cloud's mouth. Because he was too used to his mother doing the same thing he chewed it.
In minutes his heart stopped racing and kept a steady beat. However it came with a side effect of being sleepy. He was out minutes before Sephiroth approached.
He must have taken another fever. Cloud would wake up delirious. Once he mistook Aerith as his mother. When she wasn't at his side then others were. It rotated randomly between Sephiroth, Zack, Angeal or Genesis.
Cloud could only remember seeing their faces briefly before rolling over to sleep. Sometimes he would listen to Genesis reading something out loud. Other times he heard Aerith's humming.
The only two people who were always close at his side besides the Seer in training were Sephiroth and Zack. Sephiroth was always next to him on the bed. Zack stayed off the bed but sat next to it, affectionately running a hand through his hair.
Until finally the fever broke. Cloud awoke early in the morning. Sephiroth reached over to touch his forehead. There was relief in his eyes when he knew the fever was gone.
"How many days?" Cloud hated how raspy his voice sounded.
"Nearly a week. The claws went a little deep into your thigh. Aerith even stayed one night here during the worst of the fever." Sephiroth informed.
"How come you guys were always rotating shifts?" Cloud wondered.
"Some weren't happy you lived. I wasn't going to risk your life when you already couldn't fight anyone off."
"Did you do that because you cared, or because our fates are tied together?"
The question earned a glare.
"Do you honestly believe that I only want you alive because we are bound together by fate? I would have thought by now you would know the answer."
Cloud felt a strain on his hand. It felt like the hand pulled some invisible cord that went up his arm and into his heart. And both points had a heat to them.
"I..." He stared into otherworldly eyes and the apology died in his throat.
Sephiroth softened his gaze. His expression relaxed. He leaned to plant a quick and gentle peck on Cloud's forehead. The blond blinked as the hot anger subsided into a warmth in his palm.
"Don't risk your life so recklessly from now on." Sephiroth sighed.
"You're going to be very disappointed in me for the rest of our days." Cloud snickered.
"Somehow, I don't doubt it." Sephiroth played along with his playfulness.
Cloud sat up. He moved his foot of his injured leg to test the pain levels. He was relieved that it wasn't bad. Slowly he moved to get up off the bed.
"Don't leave the house. Aerith was adamant you don't go back to work until she approves you can do it." The prince watched Cloud stretch.
"How come you don't live in the longhouse?" Cloud wondered.
"Too crowded with my brothers constantly pestering me. And everyone wants to bring their problems to me. Here I won't be bothered until I leave the door."
Understandable.
Cloud found a pair of pants that wasn't torn up. And as he put them on he had a curiosity that he had to ask. He turned around, showing his healed palm.
"Did you know that the method you used would influence us to grow closer?"
"Not at the time. Aerith informed me while you were asleep. I don't have any regrets." Sephiroth stared.
"So then why haven't you done anything?" Cloud glared.
"Is that what you wish?"
"Just answer me." He felt an anger rising. "I should hate you. I did hate you. But each day it's slipping away. And I'm scared. Do you have any idea how absurd it is that I want the man who killed my mother? You people take what you want for yourselves! And yet you haven't done that!"
Sephiroth stood. Cloud had to look up. He felt intimidated. But he bravely stood his ground as he glared.
"I thought about it the night you and Zack were drunk. But I wanted you sober and willing instead of impaired by mead. Thus I have remained patient until you make the first move."
"So I don't strike you down as Ifalna predicted as two separate paths?" Cloud glared.
"I will admit, that vision did make my heart tremor. But now? I am excited for it. If I must fall from another's hand, I want it to be yours."
The intensity of his eyes showed just how serious he was. And Cloud was left baffled. Strangely he felt a pull. Even stranger he didn't fight it as he reached up and kissed Sephiroth.
After a moment to ensure Cloud wasn't going to change his mind, Sephiroth deepened the kiss. Hands began exploring Cloud's body. He knew he shouldn't enjoy these touches. Yet Sephiroth was proving to be a poison and an anecdote in the same instance.
Cloud supposed he shouldn't fight it anymore. He was trapped in a current and it made more sense to go along with it. Might as well learn to enjoy the ride.