DO NOT OWN!!!
If I mess anything up, tell me. If you have a suggestion for what could happen, tell me. If you have a suggestion for a pairing, tell me. If you liked it, tell me. If you hated it, tell me. If you didn't even read it, tell me. If you think I'm the devil, tell me. If you breath air, tell me...
What can I say, I like feedback.
ANYWAY! I'm pretty sure that TsengxReno is the most popular with my wonderful reviewers... Of course I could just be counting wrong. I've been known to count backwards.
A little farther down the line, Aeris and pretty much everyone else is going to make an appearance, so if you have any preferances... TELL ME!!!
Pairings: SephxCloud, Eventual SephxZackxCloud, and Eventual TsengxReno
-o-o-
Sephiroth was awoken by the feeling of his large, white feathery bed dipping down. He lazily looked up at who would dare disturb his sleep and his sacred chamber. It was his shy cadet oddly enough. His eyes were wide with trust and innocence. His slight weight caused the black silk sheets to pool near him.
"Cloud..."
The cadet's deft little fingers were unbuttoning his adorible uniform. How many times had Sephiroth imagined this very scene? "You told me my first time should be with someone special..."
Other than the obvious things, this betrayed this night visit to be a dream. He was aware he had never told that to Cloud, and planned to tell him more than their talk last night. Knowing this was a dream didn't mean Sephiroth wouldn't take advantage of it.
"Let me get that for you."
When Sephiroth woke up, he was painfully aware of his too large and lonely bed, as well as his love for a young boy that should have no reason to love him back. He was just glad Cloud didn't come into his room in reality.
He wouldn't want to the lovely blond to see his mentor looking so shattered and helpless.
-o-o-
When Sephiroth emerged from his bedroom, he smelled something very much out of place in his side of the large apartment. He let his nose lead him to the kitchen. If someone broke into his apartment, he would forgive them if they shared the food he smelled. Hell, he would forgive murder if it meant tasting whatever was creating that amazing aroma.
His small, shy charge was cooking, yellow spikes sticking out randomly, making it painfully obvious that he hadn't even tried to brush his hair yet. He was in fresh clothes, looking very neat in stark contrast to Sephiroth, who was still in the black silk pants he wore to bed. He never wore the shirt that went with them either. Sensing eyes on him, sleepy blue sought out warm green.
An eager smile spread quickly over the honey-white skin of the mountain boy, Sephiroth returned it with a warm smile of his own, loving the fact he could provoke such a reaction. As Cloud took in his sleep rumpled appearance, he blushed. Though he took everything in stride, it seemed the blond was shy about seeing his mentor half-naked.
"I hope you don't mind," Cloud chirped in his soft tone. "I thought that after last night..." His scarlet blush intensified and spread. "I thought I should do something nice for you. And them," he added as an after-thought, pointing the pan toward the couch.
Reno and Zack, having passed out, slept the entire night on Sephiroth's couch. He hoped they had one hell of a hangover. Lovingly, of course, because it was going to teach them a lesson. Not because he annoyed that he wasn't the only one Cloud was cooking for. Of course not...
To his immense disappointment, Cloud walked over and softly shook them awake, then handed each one of them a concoction. Groans met the surfacing from unconciousness. They both unknowingly took a sip from the cups pressed into their hands, then almost immediately tried to spit it out, a reaction that pleased the silver-haired man.
Cloud lunged forward to cover their mouths, so they had no choice but to swallow. "This'll get rid of your hangovers, so swallow!" he scolded his friends in his naturally soft voice.
Zack opened one bleary, sleepy eye and trained it on his youngest friend. "I wasn't aware you had a hidden grudge towards us." Was he aware, Sephiroth wondered, that he still sounded drunk?
"Oh yeah," Cloud drawled, rolling his eyes. "I have come to cure your hungover state so we could do battle. Shut up and drink, Zack. You too Reno. If you finish all of that, I have pancakes and bacon and eggs and other stuff."
The thought of food roused the men more than the drink had. Leaving them to gather enough courage to drink, Cloud calmly walked into the kitchen. Sephiroth had already got himself a cup of coffee and took a seat at the small table. "Are you sure you want to be in SOLDIER? You seem more suited to being a medic. That is to say," he corrected himself. "You are an excellent fighter, but you are also intellegent and from the looks of it, you like to care for the ill."
Cloud gave a small chuckle. "I'm determined to be in SOLDIER." Cloud took a the chair closest to the oven and pulled it closer to the oven so he could sit and make sure the breakfast didn't mysteriously combust. (Not that he was expecting it. Sure it had happened a few other times, but each time Zack and his close at hand fire materia were blamed.)
"And what made you so sure that SOLDIER is the one thing you want to do in life? I'm positive that you have a lot of prospects. The Turks, the medics, and a lot of other people would love to have you working with them." (Not to say Sephiroth would necessarily let Cloud out of his life, but he was curious.)
Cloud just hunched over the pans of food, trying to think up something to say. He certainly didn't want to admit that he only joined SOLDIER because Sephiroth had inspired him. No, he liked the respect he had from the man, and admitting that he was a fan would rob him of that. He settled for his next biggest reason. "I was picked on and bullied at Nibelhiem, I just want to prove to myself that I can be strong."
Cloud piled some food on a plate for Sephiroth, and turned, but froze at the look he was getting. Sephiroth's bright green eyes looked at his serious charge tenderly, tinged also with concern. Never in his life had anyone looked at Cloud like that. "That sounds like you want to prove something to somebody. You shouldn't spend your life doing something for someone else," he quitely admonished.
Cloud flinched a bit, then set down the plate of food before his mentor. He checked on Zack and Reno's progress and observed their betting on who could finish the foul liquid first. Satisfied, he returned to the kitchen. He took a seat across from the General and crossed his hands on the table, crossing and uncrossing his fingers. He wasn't sure how to phrase his reply, so he took his time letting the words slip through his lips.
"Meaning no disrespect, I started out like that, but right now I am here for reasons all my own. I know Shinra is bad, and I know it will only get worse. I will be ordered to fight for reasons that I don't know and don't understand. But all of that is okay, because I'm here now to fight for the people that value me, because before I met them I really believed I wasn't worth it and I didn't matter. But these people, people like Zack and Reno and even you, have given me a reason to be in SOLDIER. I want to help you all, and repay some of the kindness you have shown me."
Sephiroth watched with concern as Cloud wiped his teary eyes. "Because without any of you, I think I wouldn't have ever been happy. Thank you."
Sephiroth leaned forward and covered Cloud's small hands with one large, curiously soft hand, the other tightening on his cup. "Cloud, you don't have to be in SOLDIER because your friends are. We would still love you if you took another path. I would help you with whatever you desire to do."
The corner of Cloud's mouth twiched up. "But I don't want to take another path. I want to be in SOLDIER." Bemused, he brushed away the last of the tears.
Sephiroth reluctantly smiled back when his beloved charge's voice took on an almost whiney tone. His body began acting on instinct from there. He leaned closer to Cloud, and was surprised when he looked up. There was a hazy look of want in the cadet's precious blue eyes, and he tilted his head a bit and leaned in as well.
And then Zack stumbled into the kitchen, Reno hot on his heels, effectively killing the mood. "Me hungry!!!"
Cloud just smiled indulgently and got them plates. "Show me the empty cups."
When they both showed the cups that were indeed empty, Cloud began to pile food on their plates. They took seats at the table, sparing a look at the half-dressed state of Sephiroth, and decided not to bate him. Well, Reno did.
"Seriously, Seph? You only wear pants to bed? Please tell me your wearing underwear under that. I feel wary letting Cloud sleep next door with you sleeping in here all not dressed and stuff."
He still sounded drunk to Sephiroth. The General was so close to throwing him out, along with the alcoholic red-head. Had Cloud been about to kiss him? He would never know, because they ruined it. He leaned back in his chair, giving Zack a long stare that clearly said, "I'm not happy with you."
Suddenly the plate in front of Zack was immensly interesting.
Cloud pushed the chair he had been using back to the table. "Sir? I was wondering if after class we could continue with the minor arms-dealer case?"
Sephiroth nodded. "Of course, cadet."
Sephiroth's thoughts were now; DAMN YOU ZACK FAIR AND TURK NAMED RENO!
Cloud smiled and made himself a plate. He stood for a moment, debating on whether or not to sit with them. The table looked cramped as is...
Reno looked up at him and pushed out the chair Cloud had just pushed in. Zack tugged the youngest of them down into the chair. "Stay awhile. Me'n Reno'll eat fast, and we'll be out of your spikily dangerous hair in no time."
Sephiroth decided that Zack had some brains, seeing as how he made Cloud stick around. And it wasn't too bad to see Cloud come out of his shell a bit, batting away Reno's hands that seemed to want to determine if there was any gel in Cloud's hair.
To his surprise, Sephiroth found that he liked how it felt to have a morning with a full kitchen. It felt... complete.
-o-o-
Cloud opened the door to the gym Sephiroth frequently populated and peered in. He saw Sephiroth in there all right, but he was also with a women. From the way she leaned close to Sephiroth, who was seated on one of the benches, she and the General were close.
Cloud felt a small part of him whimper in pain. He had thought that over breakfast... He thought Sephiroth was going to...
He observed them for a few more moments, unsure of what to do. It was in his schedule he created with his mentor that this time was meant for sword practice. He settled for watching them for a little longer...
The woman was beautiful, Cloud had to admit. She had blond hair, pulled mostly back, letting only a few strands escape. From that distance, he couldn't tell the eye color. She wore a revealing bright red dress and red heels, making Cloud wonder what her damage with red was.
He was just about to ease the door closed when the rebellious door emited a quite squeak. Sephiroth and Red Lady (as Cloud was mentally referring to her as) looked up. Red Lady looked annoyed, but Sephiroth's features were flooded with relief. He waved Cloud over.
Cloud obidently came, stopping a few feet away from the now-standing pair. He seemed to wilt under the glare he was getting from Red Lady. Sephiroth gripped one of his charge's shoulders and pulled him closer.
"I'm sorry, but as you may have heard, I agreed to be in the mentor program, and so I must cut this meeting short. Goodbye," he abruptly turned on his heel, pulling Cloud behind him. Red Lady seemed to snarl at him, so he hurried with Sephiroth out the doors.
Cloud could have sworn he heard his mentor say something. It sounded vaguely like, "Bitch."
Cloud smiled a bit. So Sephiroth might actually be interested in him...