Chapter 14, woo hoo! This chapter is shorter than the others because I've been loaded down with homework. I hope everyone is pleased with the punishment the Cloud-haters have recieved. It is brought to you from Sephy!
Pairings: SephirothxZackxCloud and TsengxReno (Eventual TsengxRufusxReno)
-o-o-
The next morning, Reno woke abruptly to cold air brushing up against him. He blinked sleepily up at Cloud, who had just gotten out of bed. Cloud squinted down at him with a smile.
"How's your eyes kid?" he asked, pulling the still warm pillow Cloud used to his chest to recover some lost warmth.
Cloud's already big smile grew to a blinding grin. "I can see. Not the finer details, but I can see!"
Reno decided to celibrate. He carefully lifted the pillow and flung it into the air while shouting; "Hooray!"
Cloud caught the pillow and laughed happily. Reno levered himself into a technically upright position and yawned. He was momentarily stunned when his mouth was filled with pillow. He caught it as it fell and glared at the thrower of the white fluffy monster. He threw it back.
Cloud caught it and threw it back to Reno.
Reno caught it and threw it back to Cloud.
This continued for several minutes until they heard a sharp knocking on Sephiroth's door. They both traded uneasy glances, trying to figure out whether or not to answer. It didn't matter. They heard the bedroom door open and Sephiroth must have gotten the door.
"Hello Tseng. What brings you here so early in the morning?" Sephiroth's deep voice sounded. The door sounded like it closed.
"I was told Reno was sick and I was wondering if you had seen him. I went by his apartment and he wasn't there," Tseng said calmly.
Meanwhile, Cloud now had a huge grin on his face and he made a heart with his figers and placed it on his chest. He made exagerated kissing faces to Reno.
"Yes, in fact, I have. He's sleeping with Cloud," Sephiroth replied absently.
There was a moment of silence. "Sleeping with Cloud?" Tseng repeated, more than a little dumbfounded.
Sephiroth blinked quickly, focusing. "No, he's sleeping in Cloud's bed with Cloud still in the bed. Last night he asked to stay the night and cloud went in to help him get the bed in order... And they both fell asleep."
Tseng nodded. He knew Reno was crazy about the kid. Not as in the way Rufus was crazy about the red haired Turk, but as in the "if you so much as make my little brother cry,your head will roll" way.
Sephiroth gestured for Tseng to go ahead into the room and he stepped forward and turned the handle.
Reno silently snarled at the blond cadet that was having the time of his life. He lifted the pillow and took careful aim and let it fly. It soared over Cloud's ducking head and straight into Tseng's face, who had just opened the door.
There was a moment of silence when Reno and Cloud stared up at the two men with wide eyes. Sephiroth bent to pick up the pillow and held it to Cloud. "That wasn't funny..."
That broke the dam inside the blond. He snatched the pillow from his oldest love and used it to cover his face and muffle his hysterical laughter.
Tseng stepped further into the room, blank eyes trained on Reno, who began to babble anything he could think of. "It's all the puppybo's fault he ducked when I threw it and he was mocking me, so I had to, but he ducked, and we were playing catch, then we heard you come in and Cloud-" Reno cut himself off and blushed.
Tseng sat next to the newest Turk, willing himself not to do anything stupid. "Better a pillow than a weapon at least."
Cloud had finally calmed, and so saw an opportunity for Reno to talk with Tseng. He jumped up and grabbed Sephiroth's hand. "Hey, let's go make breakfast, okay?" Sepiroth, confused but unquestioning, followed, shutting the door behind them.
Reno looked everywhere but at Tseng. Tseng looked only at Reno.
"Reno, getting in a relationship with the vice-president could be very, very bad," Tseng began.
Reno's head snapped up and he stared open mouthed at Tseng. How did he know? How could he know? He tried to form a coherent sentence. "Wha? How...? Are you...?"
Tseng looked straight ahead, not trusting himself to look at Reno's vulnerable and confused face. "Last night I had a mission for you and Rude, and you were no where to be found. I thought you might be wandering the compound, so I went and checked the security cameras. I saw yourself and Rufus kiss, then I gave up and gave the mission to another team."
"So you didn't see anything after Rufus kissed me?"
"Reno, I espect your privacy. I would never violate it."
The young Turk flopped back on the bed. "For once I wish you would have. Then I wouldn't have to explain."
Tseng tried to refuse. "No explanation is neccesary Reno. Everyone has... needs."
"Yeah, well I haven't been needy since I joined the Turks," Reno said grumpily. When Tseng looked down at him in surprise, his cheeks colored slightly. "Remember I said I had issues with my father? Well that kiss brought them back up. Ask Rude, he had to get someone to clean up my stomach juices from the pretty white carpet."
Tseng looked worried. "Do you need more time off to work through it?"
Reno shook his head softly, with eyes just as soft. "I talked to Cloud. I told him everything and got his advice on my love life. He said getting with Rufus was a gamble." Just as Tseng was about to speak, Reno pulled his legs under him and sat up. He leaned in close to the Turk leader. "But he also said you were a sure bet," he whispered, breath ghosting across Tseng's cheeks. The red-head tilted his head to the side and pressed his lips to his bosses.
Tseng was frozen at first, but soon began to respond. He carefully pulled the young one into his arms and moved his lips hesitantly against Reno's, who responded happily. They kept it dry, but it was the sweetest kiss either of them had ever had. When Tseng pulled away, his eyes opened to see Reno's own open and shine with absolute certainty.
"Reno," Tseng whispered to the emotionally scarred boy still in his arms. "I need you to know for that I can't provide for you as well as Rufus can, but I can love you just as well."
Reno flashed him an amused smile. "You sound like I'm pregnant or something. I'm not a chick, I don't need to be coddled."
"But you deserve it and more."
"If your so obsessed with providing for me, go ahead and provide me with a kiss, then some of Cloud's wonderful breakfast, and maybe some of Rude's coffee."
Tseng obeyed the red head and gave him another careful kiss. Neither of them desired anything more than this for right now. When they broke apart, Tseng stood and offered his hand with a bow. "Now for free-loading breakfast," he announced.
With a smile, Reno accepted the hand and let himself be led out of the room and into Sephiroth's apartment. When in the kitchen, they recieved a smile from Cloud and an acknowledging nod from Sephiroth. cloud briefly disappeared and reappeared with another chair.
"It's gonna be a tight fit at the table, but I think we can all squeeze in," Cloud said with obvious cheer. "Zack'll probably wake up when breakfast is done. He has instincts for the nearest meals."
Sephiroth stood and relieved Cloud of his burden. "The next time I have time off, I'll see about getting a bigger table."
Reno slumped over the table and yawned, one hand still in Tseng's. "Cloud," he whined. "Your acting like a housewife."
Cloud turned with a plate of food in either hand. "This housewife won't hesistate to not serve you, or spit in your food. So what were you saying?"
"I'm hungry and your my bestest friend that is not a housewife?" Reno guessed, and recieved food for his troubles. Within moments, the other men had plates as well. They had just taken a bite when Zack stumbled in, eyes still closed.
When he pried open his eyes, he didn't see anything but Cloud and stalked over. He plucked Cloud up and set him on the counter and began kissing him with everything he had.
Cloud shoved Zack back, breaking the kiss with a shriek, causing him to crash to the floor in a heap of limbs. He looked woundedly up at the blond. He was biting his lip and rubbing his butt through his pants.
"Wha-"
"Zack Fair, next time you want a kiss, do it with me on the ground and not sitting on a lit stove!" Cloud snarled, to the amusement of everyone but Zack.
Zack stuttered hal formed apologies and promised not to do it again. He was silenced by a plate of food thrust in front of him. He looked up mournfully at stern eyes. "Your not a dog, eat at the table like everyone else."
Sephiroth snickered and resolved to tell Cloud about Zack the puppy. Zack shot him a glare, guessing what was going through his head. He stopped cold at the sight of Reno and Tseng's hands clasped together. "You're together? Since when?"
Cloud answered before they could. "They've been together for years. You've been asleep for nine years so far."
"Really? Is that all? I could go for about three more years. What about you, Spike? You obviously haven't grown, but has Seph popped your cherry yet?" Zack asked slyly, giving the room in general a wink.
Cloud turned the brightest shade of red anyone had seen on a human face and proceeded to shriek at the top of his lungs and throw a mug at Zack, who barely had time to duck.
When the room calmed down and Zack was safely nestled between Tseng and Sephiroth, there was a knock at the door. Cloud was out of the kitchen and on his way to answer the door before anyone realized it. Sephiroth wiped his mouth and hands before rising to join his cadet.
Cloud opened the door with a cheery good morning and an internal wince at his his sore rear. His cheer was in vain as he recognized the faces of Heidigger and Scarlet. He struggled to hold the pleasant smile on his face.
"We need to speak with you and your master, cadet," Scarlet said with a sneer. They both pushed right passed Cloud without a thought, but halted when they saw the upset expression on Sephiroth's normally smooth face.
"I am his mentor, not his master, and he is human, as are we all, and should be treated as such."
"Are you?" Heidigger asked with distain.
"The cadet abandoned Shinra, and now you want him to just rejoin ranks as if nothing happened? This child has changed you. You used to be a leader, remember? Now you run from Shinra for what? A child to warm your bed?" Scarlet tried to act caring, but failed miserably.
Cloud, unseen by anyone but Sephiroth, flinched at the accusations and looked down in shame. Sephiroth went cold with rage. "Get out of my home now," Sephiroth forced out from between clenched teeth.
Tseng, Zack, and Reno came out of the kitchen when they heard the voices, and were not at all happy to see the guests.
Heidigger surged to his feet. "You shouldn't have anything to do with this runt of a cadet in the first place! He's underaged to start with!"
Cloud stepped forward deperately. He didn't want anyone fighing over him. "If it's age of consent that's upsetting you, you don't need to worry. I'm from Nibelhiem, and they don't have and age of consent at all, and their laws apply to me, even in Midgar!" he explained anxiously.
Heidigger turned on him and before he could stop himself, lashed out a fist to Cloud's cheek. Cloud went sprawling, and Tseng and Reno had to restrain Zack. Sephiroth froze with shock. All eyes were on the shy cadet. One hand cupped his mouth and when it pulled out, the bright red color of blood stood out on his pale skin. His pink lip swiped at his lip and became stained with the same liquid.
Sephiroth saw red.
-o-o-
Reno and Zack paced anxiously, waiting for the doctor to come out and tell them they could see the wounded blond. They were awaiting the doctor to put in a few stitches in the lip Heidigger had busted open with his wild swing. They were also waiting for news from their older loves.
Sephiroth was called to the President and Vice President to explain his actions. Tseng went as well as a third party witness.
The waiting room doors opened and in strode the men they were missing, and they both flew into their arms. Sephiroth liftled Zack and sat in a chair with him on his lap.
Tseng let Reno lean on him and led him to another chair and placed him the chair next to him.
"What's the total damage to the fat ass bastard?" Zack asked, nuzzling into Sephiroth's neck.
"Broken jaw, fractured skull, three broken ribs, one of which punctured the lung, one broken hand, and a shattered leg. How is Cloud?" Sephiroth hesitated to ask, knowing Cloud was probably scared of the rage he had flew into and the damage he had done.
"Spike's getting a couple stitches for his lip. He's scared that you'll be in trouble. Are you?"
"No. Tseng presented a good arguement."
Tseng stroked the silky red hair of his love. "I pointed out that Cloud's mother could sue for injuries unrelated to his training. After that he was very understanding. Even about Scarlet's broken leg. On a related note, they were both fired as well for attempts to intimidate a fellow Shinra official."
Their conversation was interupted by the doctor coming in. Zack jumped up at once and shot over. "Is he okay?"
The doctor nodded and gestured at the door. "It's a simple procedure, and your welcome to go see for yourself. If you would please, he's not accustomed to the stitched yet and may be in danger of chewing them out. I'd like to know that someone's keeping an eye on him until he's used to them. The only reason it took so long this time was because he chewed them without realizing it."
Zack nodded quickly and Sephiroth came over. "I assure you, we won't leave him unattended until the stitches come out." The doctor nodded and departed.
Zack and Sephiroth went in to talk with hm privately, though Reno was a bit impatient. Zack immediately had to remind his favorite cadet to quit chewing his lip.
"What's happening?" Cloud wanted to know in a voice that sounded strange to them. The stitched sort of muffles the words he tried to say.
Sephiroth hugged Cloud and revealed his surprise for them. "We're going on vacation for a bit. You need to heal, and I need to cool my head, apparently. Zack's coming to help us along with that. While we're gone, we're still going to train though."
"Why," Zack asked.
Sephiroth took a breath and his voice was prideful when he spoke. "When we return, it will be time for the cadet assessments. They're going to be public this year to see what SOLDIER has turned out, almost like a tournament. Do well enough and you may be chosen to take the SOLDIER exam."
-o-o-
I need help again...
WHERE DO YOU WANT THEM TO VACATION?